In understanding that “thus have I heard” is referring to Myoho Renge Kyo we realize that Myoho Renge Kyo pre-exists the text of the sutra. In this understanding, Myoho Renge Kyo has always existed before the text explaining it. So, in this way Myoho Renge Kyo is the fundamental truth that exists outside of or independent of the actual text, which follows. The other way around views the text as being the fundamental truth, which is then summarized by the title.

In the text of the Lotus Sutra we are told of several versions of the Lotus Sutra practiced by others in other worlds. One example of this is the Lotus Sutra practiced by Never-Despise Bodhisattva, which was the phrase “I respect you deeply, I do not despise you. Why is that? It is because you will be able to practice the Way of Bodhisattvas and become Buddhas” or simply “I do not despise you because you can become Buddhas.” In the world and the time in which Never-Despise Bodhisattva lived this was the Lotus Sutra that was most appropriate. So the text of the Lotus Sutra may be different depending upon the people, the place, and the time. But regardless of the text of the Lotus Sutra, the Myoho Renge Kyo, or Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Flower Sutra, never changes. This is the manifold Lotus Sutra.