Living the Zen Life

A time and a place

A time and a place

A time and a place


“Good things come to those who wait.”
—Violet Fane

“Carpe Diem! (Seize the day!)”
—Horace
 

S

o what’s it going to be?

Now or never? Or lifetimes? Will you practice like your hair’s on fire? Or will you be casual about it?

One of my favorite mentors, Steve Chandler, used a perfect distinction to teach the coaches in his school. He said, “I can be serious in my profession, but I don’t have to take myself seriously.”

In this simple statement, he made it obvious that seriousness has a time and a place. In one instance, being serious is necessary to produce success and, in the other, detrimental to it.

The same is true with spiritual practice. I take my practice extremely seriously. Staying conscious is a non-negotiable way of being and living life. It’s not something stapled to my to-do list. I am not practicing for the sake of attaining results. In fact, seeking an enlightened ego keeps me blind to the simple task of being present.

Ironically, the moment I’m a somebody is the moment I’m lost.

So our focus in practice? Be going as fast as you can when end up falling on your face!
 

In lovingkindness,


If you enjoyed this article, you can find a version of it in my book, Living the Zen Life: Practicing Conscious, Compassionate Awareness (Volume One).

If you enjoyed this article, you can find a version of it in my book, Living the Zen Life: Practicing Conscious, Compassionate Awareness (Volume Two).

If you enjoyed this article, you can find a version of it in my book, Living the Zen Life: Practicing Conscious, Compassionate Awareness (Volume Three).

If you enjoyed this article, you can find a version of it in my book, A Shift to Love: Zen Stories and Lessons by Alex Mill.

If you enjoyed this article, you can find a version of it in my book, Meditation and Reinventing Yourself.

If you enjoyed this article, you can find a version of it in my book, The Zen Life: Spiritual Training for Modern Times.

 


  Alex Mill trained in a Zen Buddhist monastery for nearly 14 years. He now offers his extensive experience to transform people’s lives and businesses through timeless Zen principles.

He is the creator of three powerful 30-day programs, Heart-to-Heart: Compassionate Self-Mentoring, Help Yourself to Change, and Your Practice, as well as the online Zen meditation workshop, Taming Your Inner Noise (now offered as The FREE Zen Workshop).

Alex has also written seven books on Zen awareness practice. The latest are entitled A Shift to Love: Zen Stories and Lessons (Get it for FREE here) and the 3-book series Living the Zen Life: Practicing Conscious, Compassionate Awareness.

He is a full-time Zen Life Coach who offers guidance and life-changing support to his private clients worldwide. Book a call.