Some of your comments and general questions answered with my replies.

Many Lifetimes? Reincarnation? What's going on here?

How do we experience our idea of self?

The central point of the Lotus Sutra, Mahayana, and Nichiren Buddhism is the inherent Buddha nature in all of life. This is the crucial content of the Lotus sutra chapter titled "The Treasure Tower".

So what is this idea of self and other and the human desire to externalize all inner experiences?

A little about me and what I am trying to accomplish here...

How do we "think" and when does this process begin?

So what is this Daimoku and how does chanting help our understanding of Buddhism? It is our direct link, by invocation, of our awakened mind...

How do we improve our understanding, our resolve, our depth of practice? When we study in combination with our Gohonzon practice, our unique path to awakening becomes tangible and more clear with every effort. It is the combination that provides us insights that excite and motivate us with greater confidence that we are actually observing the effects of our Buddhahood.

Buddhism views life's troubles and relationships as opportunities for developing resolve in Buddhist practice, self-observation, or possible negative influences. When we are influenced in a way that either specifically or obtusely discourages our practice or resolve, these are obstacles to our happiness, our enlightenment.