Formal entry into Nichiren Shōshū centers on a deliberate, priest-guided process that unites doctrinal commitment with concrete ritual steps. A person first approaches an authorized Nichiren Shōshū temple or propagation center and studies the basic teachings and practice, especially the chanting of Nam-myōhō-renge-kyō and the recitation of portions of the Lotus Sutra (gongyō). This preparatory period allows the seeker to confirm alignment with the school’s understanding of the Three Treasures—Buddha, Law, and Priest—as interpreted through Nichiren Daishōnin and the lineage of the priesthood. Only under the guidance of an ordained Nichiren Shōshū priest can the formal process move forward.

The decisive act of becoming a member is the reception of gojukai, the formal conversion ceremony in which one receives the precepts. This ritual is performed before the Gohonzon at the temple and involves taking refuge in the Three Treasures in the specific doctrinal sense upheld by Nichiren Shōshū. Through this ceremony, the person is no longer merely a sympathizer or student, but is recognized as having entered the community of believers under the protection and guidance of the school’s priesthood. Gojukai is therefore both a spiritual vow and an institutional gateway.

Following gojukai, the new believer receives a personal Gohonzon, transcribed within the Nichiren Shōshū tradition and bestowed under the authority of the priesthood. This mandala becomes the focus of daily practice in the home, where chanting Nam-myōhō-renge-kyō and performing gongyō are carried out as the concrete expression of the vows made during the ceremony. At this point, the practitioner is regarded as a full member, practicing independently yet firmly connected to the temple that conferred the Gohonzon.

Membership also entails an ongoing relationship with a local temple, where registration and regular participation in services, ceremonies, and study meetings are expected. Under the continuing guidance of the resident priest and the broader priesthood, the believer deepens understanding of doctrine and refines daily practice. In this way, formal affiliation is not a single event but a continuing process of aligning one’s life with the school’s teachings, supported by the shared faith and discipline of the Nichiren Shōshū community.