Chanting Odaimoku begins by praising and expressing our appreciation to the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren understood that when we develop a mind of gratitude, praise, and devotion to the very teaching of the Lotus Sutra itself, we are creating the most fundamental cause possible to actualizing all the benefits contained in the Lotus Sutra. This is what the Buddha tells us in Chapter II as well as many other places in the Lotus Sutra.