Living the Zen Life

Get what you do

Get what you do

 
“We are punished by our sins, not for them.”
—Elbert Hubbard
 

T

he same is true with being rewarded. What you practice is what you get.

When you go to the fast-food restaurant to eat regularly, you are “punished” with poorer health. When you go to the gym and workout consistently, you are “rewarded” with better fitness. No “bad person” or “good person” labels are required, and you certainly don’t need to include any of the voices’ judgment or feel bad about it. You simply get what you do. And this is the essence of what I understand to be Karma. There’s no avoiding it. But know that a single shift one way or the other can shift oceans of it.

How many opportunities are you given moment-by-moment to choose that which could close you down and keep you stuck in suffering? How many opportunities are you given moment-by-moment to choose that which could assist you to open your life to endless possibilities?

Is it the difference between saying what you need to say to that certain person in your life? Or not saying it? Is it the difference between taking that program? Or not being with those people? Sending that email? Picking up that phone? Sitting in meditation for 5 minutes? Or not making that choice?

We are always at a crossroads in every moment.

The opening doesn’t typically stay open for very long, and once it closes, it may never open again. So don’t be too hasty but don’t wait too long.

Breathe and allow your answer to the question, “Does this lead toward suffering, or away from it?” guide you.
 

Enjoy this poster that illustrates every choice in every moment and how the voices play a role in that.


 

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.