A Reminder to Polish the Reflection in the Mirror
There are certain teachings that stop you in your tracks — not because they are complicated, but because they speak directly to something you already feel deep inside. This passage from Nichiren Daishonin is one of those teachings for me.
When I first read these words aloud, I felt them empowering my life. Because every word opened my eyes to the reality of facing my darkness and shining a spotlight on it so I could heal and become whole. And this teaching, the image of a tarnished mirror that can shine again, gave me something I did not know I needed: hope that I could change. Not my circumstances first, but myself first.
Polishing the Mirror of Your Life
When deluded, one is called an ordinary being, but when enlightened, one is called a Buddha. This is similar to a tarnished mirror that will shine like a jewel when polished. A mind now clouded by the illusions of the innate darkness of life is like a tarnished mirror, but when polished, it is sure to become like a clear mirror, reflecting the essential nature of phenomena and the true aspect of reality. Arouse deep faith, and diligently polish your mirror day and night. How should you polish it? Only by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
— Nichiren Daishonin, On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime
What Polishing the Mirror Looks Like in My Daily Life
Polishing the mirror, for me, means choosing to wake up at 4 AM on weekdays to chant. On weekends, I sleep in a little then chant for an hour. I have trained myself to choose to deepen my faith, enjoy my practice, and study to understand why I make these choices in the first place. I do it because I do not know what life has in store for me from moment-to-moment and I want to be prepared for whatever comes my way.
I enjoy polishing the mirror of my life with Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. I want to make the mirror shine at its best so I can see the reflection in it clearly.
Cleaning Up Karma, One Chant at a Time
I am absolutely certain that by polishing the mirror of my life, I am cleaning up my karma one chant at a time. This is the beauty of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism.
This practice is actual proof. Each prayer, each reflection, each action, and each experience motivates me to see how powerful my life can become and how I can create the best life to live it to the fullest. I remember a good friend in faith told me, “With this practice, you can live 100 years in 50.”
