Final answer:
In Nichiren Buddhism, 'the lotus of the wonderful law' refers to the Lotus Sutra, which is central to the faith and is believed to be the complete teaching of the Buddha that leads all beings to enlightenment. Nichiren Buddhists chant the title of this Sutra to tap into their Buddha nature and achieve purity amidst life's sufferings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 'lotus of the wonderful law' is a significant concept in Nichiren Buddhism, a school of Buddhism that places great emphasis on the Lotus Sutra as the ultimate and complete expression of the Buddha's teachings capable of leading all beings to enlightenment. Within Nichiren Buddhism, the Lotus Sutra is revered and its title is often chanted as a form of devotion and a way to align oneself with the principles of the Buddha's teachings.
Nichiren Buddhism asserts that the Lotus Sutra encompasses the entirety of the Buddha's lifetime of teachings and that believing in this Sutra is integral to an individual's salvation and liberation. This perspective of Buddhism emerged in Japan through the eponymous monk Nichiren, who taught that the recitation of the Sutra's title in Japanese, 'Nam-myoho-renge-kyo', enables individuals to tap into the inherent Buddha nature present in all life.
The Lotus Sutra, symbolized by the metaphor of a lotus, represents the purity that can emerge from the suffering of the physical world, mirroring the growth of a lotus flower that rises immaculately from murky waters. Therefore, in Nichiren Buddhism, adherents believe that chanting the title of the Lotus Sutra allows them to connect with their innate potential for enlightenment, regardless of their life circumstances.