Mindfulness Practice in Nichiren Buddhism

The observer, or true self, that other mindfulness therapies point to is named, in Nichiren Buddhism, as the law identified by the chant of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. It is that part of us which never changes — present throughout the eternal phases of life and death, eternally connected to all there is. Nichiren therefore calls it the 'true and eternal, unchanging Buddha'. It represents our pure and eternal life force, which cannot be destroyed and was never created — it simply is, eternally.

In Nichiren Buddhist practice, this awareness is the foundation from which everything else develops. Our thoughts, feelings and expressions are seen as acts that we — as life itself — create, consciously or unconsciously, aware or unaware, for the sake of experience. This creative act is how life expresses itself, inside and outside ourselves — in self, society and environment — governed by the law represented by Myoho Renge Kyo. This is captured in the concept of ichinen sanzen, which translates literally from Japanese as 'three thousand realms' (sanzen), potentially experienced by a person's mind in a single moment of life (ichinen).

It also means that we can change what lies before us, both internally and externally. In truth, we already do this in one way or another simply by living our lives. The difference lies in whether we do it with awareness — enlightened — or without it — unenlightened. Nichiren argues that when we act with awareness, we are also aware of our own agency, and so can meet life's daily challenges from a sound and healthy state of mind.

Awareness of the true self means being aware that our essence is Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Consequently:

• I accept that inner conflict is a driver of growth.
• I take responsibility for my actions and experiences.
• I believe in the interconnection of all phenomena.
• I believe that my essence, my energy, is eternal.
• I believe that I have the power to change what lies before me.
• I believe that all experiences, whether perceived as good or bad, lead toward an evolving expansion of my capabilities.

The practitioner of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism is mindful that they are Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, and that all phenomena in their environment are likewise expressions of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.