Here are a few select quotes from the the "Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life" (titled by the SGI), a letter about the topic possibly written by Nichiren, that summarize our beliefs:

"Shakyamuni Buddha who attained enlightenment countless kalpas ago, the Lotus Sutra that leads all people to Buddhahood, and we ordinary human beings are in no way different or separate from one another. To chant Myoho-renge-kyo with this realization is to inherit the ultimate Law of life and death." (WND pg 216)

For non-Buddhists, allow us to briefly explain the above passage. "Shakyamuni Buddha who attained enlightenment countless kalpas ago" is referenced in Nichiren's writings enough to be certain that he is not referring to the transient Shakyamuni, the man, but to Shakyamuni's Buddhahood within, which we all share in common with him. In fact, later in this very writing he calls us "disciples of the Buddha in his true identity," which we can take to mean disciples of the true Buddha (any Buddha's true identity), which is to say our own Buddhahood within or the Buddhahood within any living being, as opposed to an historical living person. Overall, the above passage means that we are all cosmically interconnected, our lives are essentially one, and we all have the same condition of Buddhahood within that Shakyamuni had. Therefore we are striving to each be Buddhas or Shakyamuni's ourselves in our own lives. This interconnected spiritual identity is what we mean when we refer to the Law. It is also used to refer to Myoho-renge-kyo. The Law or Myoho-renge-kyo is also the path or the means by which we become Buddhas. So the Law or the Mystic Law can alternately be called Myoho-renge-kyo, our own Buddhahood, the Shakyamuni of the sixteenth chapter of the Lotus Sutra (called the "Life Span" chapter), the Shakyamuni who attained enlightenment countless kalpas ago, the Lotus Sutra, the Life Span chapter of the Lotus Sutra, or the Gohonzon. Sometimes even when Nichiren is referring to himself, he is referring to his enlightened aspect, not his transient identity as a living human being. All of the things in the above list are paths to one's enlightenment and their physical realities (living person, or written and spoken words) are manifestations of enlightenment. That is why they can all be called "the Law." All of those things mean the same thing. They all represent the Buddha nature within us and within all life. And it is this, Myoho-renge-kyo, that we follow or are disciples of and are one with.

"The heritage of the Lotus Sutra flows in the lives of those who never forsake it in any lifetime whatsoever -- whether in the past, the present, or the future. But those who disbelieve and slander the Lotus Sutra will immediately 'destroy the seeds for becoming a Buddha in this world.' Because they cut themselves off from the potential to attain enlightenment, they do not share the heritage of the ultimate Law of life and death." (WND pg. 217)

"All disciples and lay supporters of Nichiren should chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the spirit of many in body but one in mind, transcending all differences among themselves to become as inseparable as fish and the water in which they swim. This spiritual bond is the basis for the universal transmission of the ultimate law of life and death." (WND pg 217)

"Be resolved to summon forth the great power of faith, and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the prayer that your faith will be steadfast and correct at the moment of death. Never seek any other way to inherit the ultimate Law of life and death, and manifest it in your life." (WND pg.218)

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