Like the path of birds or the path of fish, in a sense, the path of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the most natural way for human beings to achieve enlightenment. This is because it is the means for us to reveal “the mystic truth that is originally inherent in our lives”. The Daishonin emphasizes the very natural way in which chanting daimoku allows us to manifest this innate mystic truth.
There exists a law that leads us to enlightenment even though it is not visible. This law is the practice of chanting daimoku. And this is the most natural state of human behavior. It is the fundamental way in which human beings grow spiritually.
However, because it is not obvious to us just like the paths of fishes and birds are not obvious, it is not easy to understand this immediately. The main reason for humans not to recognize this path is the obstructions from their negative karma.
So what exactly is karma?
Cause and Effect is easily understood. In fact, the relationship between cause and effect is the foundation of classical science which modern educated people are all familiar with. There are many ways to understand karma. But the most straightforward way would be to see it as an account of moral bank. Good deeds give us good karma which will be the good causes resulting in good effects. And the reverse is true for evil deeds. Hence the need to regularly perform good deeds.
But seriously, can the good deeds ever match the evil?
Karma is created with our action, words and deeds. Even if we do not actually slap someone, we definitely thought about it whenever we are angry. And gosh… can us human complaint. We complaint about anything and every complaint is an addition to our negative karma.
Add that to the violence and wars waged by our ancestors, humans are sinking in the sea of negative karma. Therefore all of us will suffer. From illness to financial problems. From emptiness in the soul to disappointment in love. We suffer as a child and we suffer in old age. All these is due to negative karma.
Therefore, at its core, the purpose of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is to clean away the tainted residues of karma.
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.
In the depths of our lives, we are all clear shiny mirrors. That is our Buddha Nature. But like a mirror, if we do not clean it regularly, it will gather dust and dirt. Just like the negative karma covering this Buddha Nature.
Or we can understand it like musical instruments. All of us are capable of producing wonderful music of happiness and joy. But like a guitar or a piano which suffers knocks and abuse of daily hardships, we go out of tune. No matter how hard we try to play the guitar, and no matter how skilled we are with the piano, if we do not first tune our lives to the rhythm of life which is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we cannot produce wonderful music.
