Why do you suppose it is that suddenly something you thought was familiar becomes remarkable?

Take this snippet from a letter written by Nichiren in 1277 at  Minobu:

A singing bird in a cage attracts uncaged birds, and the sight of these uncaged birds will make the caged bird want to be free. Likewise, the chanting of Odaimoku will bring out the Buddha-nature within ourselves. The Buddha-nature of Bonten and Taishaku will be summoned by the chanting and will protect the chanter. The Buddha-nature of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will be pleased to be summoned. For attaining Buddhahood quickly, one must lay down the banner of arrogance, cast away the club of prejudice, and chant Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō.

Awakening of the Buddha Nature,
Hokke Shoshin Jobutsu Sho

This is one of only two quotes from Nichiren that I remember from my years with Soka Gakkai. (The other is Itai Doshin Ji, One Spirit in Different Bodies.) And over the years I’ve never before been able to get past the cage that confines the bird and the bird wanting to be free. My thoughts instantly go to Maya Angelou’s 1969 autobiography “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.”

Then earlier this week I read this quote as part of my daily morning routine and suddenly realized I have never in all of these years read past the first sentence.

[T]he chanting of Odaimoku will bring out the Buddha-nature within ourselves. The Buddha-nature of Bonten and Taishaku will be summoned by the chanting and will protect the chanter. The Buddha-nature of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will be pleased to be summoned.

By chanting Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō I inspire Bonten, the God Brahman, and Taishaku, the God Sakra Devanam Indra, to offer their protection. (Bonten and Taishaku are in the Nichiren Shu Mandala Gohonzon, Numbers 16 and 18 on the Lotus World map.)

Laying down the banner of arrogance, casting away the club of prejudice, I focus on inspiring Bonten and Taishaku and the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas, searching for just the right sound when I chant Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō.