[The Nichiren-shū kōyō (Manual of the Nichiren Sect published in 1928) written by Nichiren scholar Shimizu Ryōzan] explains Daimoku in the following way: “The Daimoku is the practice of Namu Myō Hō Ren Ge Kyō. It is the manifestation of the believing mind by sowing the seed and is called Juji no ichigyō or ‘The one practice of receiving and keeping’—the terms ‘receiving’ and ‘keeping’ being synonymous with believing.”

A distinction to be made in text authority justifies Nichiren’s concept of Kanjin. In the Shakumon part of the Hoke-kyō, the “Fivefold Practice” is taught as the practice of the Shakke Bosatsu [Bodhisattvas who are followers of a provisional Buddha]. This practice consists of:

1. juji—receiving and keeping, i.e. believing
2. doku—reading
3. ju—reciting from memory
4. gesetsu —expounding
5. shosha—copying

However, the Hommon part of the Hoke-kyō especially recommends the one practice of “receiving and keeping,” saying it is the practice of Honge Bosatsu [Bodhisattvas taught by the Eternal Śākyamuni]. Thus, basing himself on the Hommon point of view, Nichiren can say with Honge Bosatsu that there ought to be no other practice but the manifestation of belief, “sowing the seed,” by uttering the Title. Though this view seems very narrow, we are assured that it is rather very deep, since in the one practice of “receiving and keeping” all practices of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are summarized. Since the one practice of ju ji is all-comprehensive, it assimilates the other four practices.

A point to remember is that before his exile to Sado, Nichiren adhered to the fivefold practice; though determining ju ji to be the proper practice, he recognized the four other ones as helping practices. It was during his stay in Sado that he adopted exclusively the one practice of ju ji.