Ultimately, the Three Truths – Emptiness, Provisional Reality, and the Middle Way – are united in one vision of the true nature of reality. All three are different ways of explaining the insight of the Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha as taught in the Lotus Sutra. It is a vision of the dynamic and interdependent nature of all things. Living in harmony with the vision of the Three Truths means freedom from clinging, freedom to act compassionately in the world, and freedom from extremes. In past ages, this vision was only available to those with the ability to comprehend the many complex teachings of the sutras, or those with the ability to meditate for long hours – even for many lifetimes – in order to see for themselves the truth of the teachings. Nichiren Shonin, however, taught the simple practice of chanting Namu Myoho Renge Kyo as the correct way to focus our minds upon the ultimate truth of the Buddha’s teachings with faith and joy. By following Nichiren Shonin’s instructions, our hearts and minds will receive an intuitive understanding of the Three Truths, and we will be able to live in harmony with them ourselves.

Understanding the Truth of the Middle Way can help us to overcome one-sided views. Awakening to the Middle Way allows us to let go of the one-sided anything, and allows us to let go of the one-sided view of non-existence, which attempts to find something unchanging and independent to cling to. The Truth of the Middle Way frees us of worldly delusion even as it allows us to remain fully involved in the world as bodhisattvas.

The Truth of the Middle Way is the teaching that Emptiness and Provisionality are different ways of pointing out that the reality of anything, including our own lives, transcends the categories of existence and non-existence. From the point of view of Emptiness, things do not exist as separate or permanent. From the point of view or Provisionality, things do exist for a time in accord with the law of cause and effect. The Middle Way recognizes thal both points of view are true and have their place.

Understanding the Truth of Emptiness can help us to overcome attachment and egotism. We overcome attachment when we recognize that nothing lasts forever in the same way. We overcome egotism when we recognize that nothing, including our own lives, can exist without the contribution and support of many other things. By awakening to the Truth of Emptiness we are able to develop freedom from selfish craving.

The Truth of Emptiness is the teaching that everything that exists is empty of a permanent and independent essence. In other words, everything exists temporarily as part of a changing process that includes all other things in different ways. A tomato, for instance, comes in to existence as part of a process that begins with a seed. The seed develops into a ripened tomato when it has the proper soil, water, and sunlight as conditions that allow it to sprout and grow. The same tomato inevitably disappears when it is eaten by people or animals, and then it becomes a contributing factor to the existence of whoever has eaten it. In this way, everything participates in the law of cause and effect.

The Three Truths are the Truth of Emptiness, the Truth of Provisionality, and the Truth of the Middle Way. Nichiren Shonin learned the Three Truths as part of his early training as a Buddhist monk, and he made them a part of his own teaching. Together, they point out the correct way to understand and apply the teachings of Emptiness, Dependent Origination, and the Middle Way, which are all different ways of explaining the central insight of Buddhism. Nichiren Shonin taught that chanting Namu Myoho Renge Kyo was itself a way to acknowledge and live in accord with the Three Truths.

Unlike previous Buddhist forms of contemplation, which depended upon one’s own ability to perceive the true nature of reality, Nichiren Shonin taught that the true nature of reality makes itself known to us as the Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha in the form of Namu Myoho Renge Kyo. In other words, Buddhahood is not some thing that we cultivate through our own self-conscious efforts. Rather, the true nature of reality is conveyed to us by the spiritual presence of the Eternal Buddha within our lives, which we awaken to through our faith in Namu Myoho Renge Kyo. All of this unfolds naturally when we focus our whole being upon the Gohonzon and chant Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.

At noon on April 28, 1253, Nichiren Shonin gave his first sermon to his former mentor and fellow monks to commemorate the completion of his studies. In that sermon, he shocked his audience by criticizing the teaching of the Pure Land sect of Buddhism. … In place of that practice, Nichiren Shonin taught the practice of chanting the Odaimoku of the Lotus Sutra, which is Namu Myoho Renge Kyo. He taught the Odaimoku as a practical and accessible way by which all people can realize the deepest truths of Buddhism. Just as the name of a country can bring to mind all its characteristics, the title of the Lotus Sutra embodies all the merits and virtues of the Buddha expounded in the Sutra. Nichiren Shonin taught that by chanting the Odaimoku, we can directly receive the ultimate truth of the Lotus Sutra from the Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha and attain Buddhahood within our lifetime.

At the age of 31, Nichiren Shonin returned to Seichoji Temple. On the morning of April 28, 1253, he faced the rising sun at the top of Mount Kiyosumi and chanted Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, thus initiating his mission to spread the Wonderful Dharma. He also gave himself the name he is known by today, Nichiren. The name means “Sun Lotus,” and refers to the light of the sun, which dispels darkness, and the purity of the lotus flower, which blooms in swamps, untouched by the dirty water around it.

For many years, Nichiren Shonin traveled all over Japan, visiting all the great temples and monasterie of his day in order to further his training. In these places, Nichiren Shonin acquired firsthand experience of all the forms of Buddhism practiced in Japan, including esoteric ceremonies, sitting meditation, chanting the name of the Buddha of Infinite Light, and the strict discipline of the monastic precepts. More importantly, he studied the sutras in order to see for himself what Shakyamuni Buddha actually taught. After many years of study, Nichiren Shonin concluded tham the Lotus Sutra was the culmination of Shakyamuni Buddha’s teachings, wherein the ultimate truth of Buddhism is clearly expounded.