The goal of Buddhism is attaining the stage of “selflessness.” This is an awakening by conquering one’s egotism manifesting as an aggregation of desires. However, one needs first to experience their ego and overcome it to reach “selflessness.” This also means there is no selflessness without ego. Knowing oneself and thereby all of humanity, one finally reaches the answer after a multitude of questions. The Buddha’s teachings show how to find the answer. They explain the practices we need to recognize the true nature of humanity and to how to live in the right way. Thus, Buddhism started by showing what we are.

Nichiren Shōnin had a different goal. His focus was society. His first question was, “How can we make this world better?” To reach his answer required two additional questions: “How should we act?” and “What is our existence?” The former has an ethical aspect where the latter has a philosophical aspect. He used various sūtras, the teachings of Śākyamuni Buddha, the lord of the Dharma, to answer these questions. For him, all sūtras were the true teachings of the Buddha. In other words, Nichiren Shōnin’s teachings were the true teachings of the Buddha.