For this purpose the Innerself Development process uses a tool called Sokaimyo (or an ancestral plaque). It is inscribed with symbolic characters representing our maternal and paternal ancestry. Since most of the things contained in our sub-conscious aspects come from all our ancestors, their representation in the form of the ancestral plaque directs our attention towards recognition of their legacy, which is within us. It thereby serves as a channel through which our thoughts access the sub-conscious levels of our mind.

Once in the sub-conscious levels of our being we need to see what it contains. For this we use a book called the Lotus Sutra or rather its abridged version, the Blue Sutra to illuminate our mind. The Blue Sutra is used particularly for this purpose because of the unique way it functions.

Among the various works, which contain Shakyamuni’s ideas and teachings, the Lotus Sutra is said to be the most practical and comprehensive text that contains his ultimate message. Since the way of self understanding differs from person to person, as do realizations each individual achieves, there can be an innumerable number of realizations for all different kinds of people. Even for the same person, there can be different realizations every moment. The same Lotus Sutra motivates all these various discoveries, which is why it is sometimes described as the “sutra of immeasurable meaning.”.