An important lesson from the very start of Chapter 17 is that the benefits of the Lotus Sutra are deeply tied to our first moment of faith, not to our subsequent practice. The Buddha says in gāthās:
“With these merits of concentration of his mind,
He sought unsurpassed enlightenment, saying:
‘I will complete all these dhyāna-concentrations,
And obtain the knowledge of all things.’“He performed
The meritorious practices
As previously stated
For hundreds of thousands of billions of kalpas.“The good men or women who believe my longevity,
Of which I told you,
Even at a moment’s thought
Will be able to obtain more merits than he.”
That’s not to say study and practice are unimportant. As the Buddha explains:
“Those who have firm faith,
And who are pure and upright,
And who hear much and memorize all teachings,
And who understand my words
According to their meaning,
Will have no doubts [about my longevity].”
But that first moment of faith is vital. As Nichiren writes in “Shishin Gohon-shō, The Four Depths of Faith and Five Stages of Practice”:
“In the Annotations on the Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra, Miao-lé writes: ‘The single moment of understanding by faith is foremost of the practices in the essential section.’ The first of the four depths of faith in the time when the sutra was taught is the single moment of understanding by faith and the first of the five stages of practice after the Buddha’s passing away is the stage of rejoicing. Within these two can be found all 100 realms, 1,000 aspects, and 3,000 modes of existences as if in a treasure chest. They are the gate out of which all the Buddhas of all time and space emerge.”
Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Faith and Practice, Volume 4, Page101
This single moment of understanding by faith is essential and is to be cherished. Attempting to do too much too quickly will only prove detrimental. As Nichiren warns:
“Fascicle nine of the Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra says, ‘The beginner is afraid that getting drawn into the myriad activities that are supporting conditions will hinder their practice of right action. At this time, they should solely uphold this sutra which is the best kind of offering. By dispensing with other matters in order to uphold the principle they will gain enormous benefit.’
“This commentary says that the supporting conditions are the first five of the six bodhisattva practices. A beginner who tries to practice them as well will hinder his own right action of faith. For instance, if a small boat overloaded with treasure tries to cross the ocean, both the boat and the treasure will sink. The phrase ‘solely uphold this sutra’ does not even refer to the whole sutra but only to upholding the daimoku, not any other passages.”
Shishin Gohon-shō, The Four Depths of Faith and Five Stages of Practice, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Faith and Practice, Volume 4, Page 105
We need not rush to perfect our practice. We should instead seek to deepen our faith.
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