I'm reading the Lotus Sutra and it's really annoying; the more I read it and the more I hate it. It mentions millions of buddhas teaching for millions of eons to billions of people that gives them millions of offerings in pure lands (planets) made of jewels (why so many details?), flowers falling down like rain for eons, etc. etc. I wonder if that's destined to be some sort of guided meditation where you concentrate in all those details to reach some altered state of consciousness. Or to filter out people who's not really determinate to read the book.
There's even a mention of a pure land in chapter 8 where there are no women nor sexual desire (!). If the intention is getting rid of all desires and live in a place where you can just meditate, then why making a pure land full of flowers and jewels? Better make a desert of black sand! LOL!
I'm reading the full Lotus Sutra myself. I can't remember what chapter I am on; but, it does have a lot of details. A lot of it are meant to be different examples and stories so that the Bodhisattvas (devas, etc) he talks to can understand in the compacity of reaching enlightenment. When they talk about "lapez, jewels, pearls, this, that, this, that" it's just an example (which could have been shortened) of how The Buddha's disciples and lay people see him. It's an analogy of the Jewels of wisdom (rather than real Jewels) that The Buddha carries.
Remember the story of the father and his sons in a burning house? The author goes on about the jewels in which the father has and tells his children so they can come from the house. It could have been shortened; but, I think the point was to show the intensity of their dellusions and attachments.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is the Lotus Sutra in Japanese. I read a lot of the Pali and cross reference it to the Lotus. It also depends on what version you are reading from. The Treasure Tower chapter and a couple chapters onward are what the Daimoku (Nam Myoho Renge Kyo) is about...how all the Bohisattvas, human beings, devas, etc etc come to hear the Law.
You don't need to read the Lotus Sutra to chant Daimoku. However, in my personal opinion, if chanting Daimoku is your thing, reading the Lotus
and the Pali will give you structure on what it's all about.
I dont think you can get around the language style, though. Some of it is in the Pali (so far I read) too.