The Hinayanists misinterpret the Twelve Linked Chain to mean that once ignorance is eradicated, the cycle of birth and death is eradicated. The correct view is that once Enlightenment is established, the cycle of birth and death within the Lower Six Worlds(the worlds of suffering) is eradicated.
The first and the foremost link is ignorance. The opposite of ignorance is Enlightenment. The Lotus Sutra(Myoho renge kyo) is Enlightenment. We establish Enlightenment by devotion(Namu) to Enlightenment(Myoho renge kyo). By chanting and believing Namu Myoho renge kyo, we eradicate ignorance and will never again cycle through the Lower Six Worlds.