The Kaikyōge (the Verses for Opening the Sutra) includes the following: “The letters composing this sutra are the Buddha’s manifestation.”

Nichiren Shōnin said, “Seeing the letters of the Lotus Sutra equals seeing the living Säkyamuni Buddha” (Reply to Shijō Kingo) and “The letters of this Sutra are the Buddha’s soul” (Kitö-shō).

The Lotus Sutra is the Eternal Buddha himself.