I had the realization recently that the descent into silent illumination might also be described using a mirror analogy.
I was recalling the magic mirror from Snow White and how this relates to the mind. In the movie, the magic mirror was a mirror that had the ability to reflect, but also had a personality and gave opinions. For many of us, the mind often behaves in a very similar way. When phenomena show up in the mirror, the mind begins swirl, forms opinions, and commentary regarding what is being reflected. These behaviors are not innate to the mirror.
We could look at silent illumination practice in terms of releasing the mind from this “magic mirror” behavior, leaving behind only the effortless reflective quality of a regular mirror. The swirling, opinions, and commentary are released, leaving behind a greater capacity to reflect whatever appears. These released behaviors, just as with the magic mirror, may seem engaging, but actually serve to obscure the basic function of the mirror/mind itself, to reflect clearly what occurs.
A mirror effortlessly reflects without adding anything to the content, regardless of what colors, fast or slow movements, ugly or beautiful forms, bright or dim light appear and fade within it. No stain, or residue is left behind regardless of what has been reflected, and no opinion is generated as part of its principle function. The released mind, when desire, reactivity, concepts and language are shed, acts in much the same way. Regardless of what occurs, no residue remains, no after-image burns in.
How can this become part of practice? Simply stop fueling these aspects of mind. When desire show up, when reactivity attempts to push and pull, when language and concepts try to overlay and “improve” the experience, simply disengage them, and let them pass like clouds moving across the sky. The mind will begin to learn that these are guests, optional additions, and exploration can begin in contrasting how experience feels when the guests are fueled and present as opposed to when they are not fed, spin themselves out and cease.
When we sit, simply be aware of the totality of experience without reacting, labeling or narrating. Feel the mind slip free from its self-imposed bonds and experience relief as it moves less and less, and becomes increasingly clear and bright. Bring this practice off the cushion and into the rest of life.