From the perspective of historical formation we can see chapters 10-22 as a group created in order to show that … inspiration can be found in the midst of ordinary life. This part of the sutra should be recognized as a kind of third division, in contrast with the traditional two-part division.

Nichiren was one who paid special attention to this part of the sutra. For this reason he insisted on the idea of “a third teaching,” saying, “The teachings of Nichiren are the third teaching.” Tiantai Zhiyi’s idea of the third “doctrine” lies behind this. His “three kinds of doctrine” are (1) the inclusiveness or non-inclusiveness of all kinds of people, (2) the universality or nonuniversality of transformation, and (3) closeness to or distance from the Buddha. Whereas the first and second kinds of doctrine characterize the first half of the Lotus Sutra (teachings of the historical Shakyamuni), the third characterizes the latter half of the sutra (teachings of the Everlasting Original Shakyamuni). But Nichiren could see only the point stressing that Superior Practice and the other bodhisattvas who emerged from the earth were authentic disciples of the Buddha, and from that perspective he picked up and accepted the third doctrine, calling it the third teaching.”