The Four Stages of Faith and The Five Stages of Practice:

The Four Stages of Faith:

1). Stage of believing in and understanding the sutra even for a moment.

2). Stage of generally understanding the intention of the words of the sutra.

3). Stage of expounding the sutra widely for others.

4). Stage of deep faith in the truth of the Buddha's Mystic Law.

The Five Stages of Practice:

1). Stage of first hearing the name of the Law (myoji-soku) – where one first hears the true Law and understands that all phenomena are the Mystic Law.

2). Stage of observation and practice (kangyo-soku) – perceiving the truth within and having no contradiction between perception and action

3). Stage of having purified the six sense organs (soji-soku) – outwardly resembling a Buddha)

4). Stage of eradicating fundamental darkness (funjin-soku) – partial awakening to the truth

5). Stage of perfect enlightenment (kukyo-soku, or the ultimate level).

Nichiren stated that he was at the stage of first hearing the name of the Law (myoji-soku) from the Eternal Buddha in the remote past... The stage where one first hears the true Law and understands that all phenomena are the Mystic Law. Having heard the Law in the remote past, Nichiren is an "advanced practitioner".