Why is the Lotus Sūtra considered the highest teaching of Śākyamuni Buddha? Kyōtsū Hori’s translation of Kaimoku-shō has Nichiren state, “Twenty important doctrines are in this Lotus Sūtra.” (Hori 2002, p. 34) Senchū Murano’s version states, “The Buddha expounds two important teachings in this sūtra.” (Murano 2000, p. 13). …

The twenty important doctrines can be found in the commentary Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sūtra by Zhiyi. In that work Zhiyi states that there are ten “wonders” or “subtleties” (he uses the Chinese word miao, which is myō in Japanese) that can be found in the Trace Gate (J. Shakumon) comprised of the first fourteen chapters of the Lotus Sūtra, and there are another ten wonders that can be found in the Original Gate (J. Honmon) comprised of the last fourteen chapters of the Lotus Sūtra. The two important teachings are the One Vehicle teaching expounded in the Trace Gate and the Buddha’s revelation of the true extent of his lifespan expounded in the Original Gate.