“Do not regret the past. Look to the future.”

"SOYEN SHAKU, the first Zen teacher to come to America, said: “My heart burns like fire but my eyes are as cold as dead ashes.” He made the following rules which he practiced every day of his life. In the morning before dressing, light incense and meditate. Retire at a regular hour. Partake of food at regular intervals. Eat with moderation and never to the point of satisfaction. Receive a guest with the same attitude you have when alone. When alone, maintain the same attitude you have in receiving guests. Watch what you say, and whatever you say, practice it. When an opportunity comes do not let it pass by, yet always think twice before acting. Do not regret the past. Look to the future. Have the fearless attitude of a hero and the loving heart of a child. Upon retiring, sleep as if you had entered your last sleep. Upon awakening, leave your bed behind you instantly as if you had cast away a pair of old shoes."

— Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

The Importance of Showing Up

I remember being quite disheartened when I first read this as a teenager.

“Waking up and leaving your bed instantly? I guess I’ll never be a Zen master.”

Decades later, I still don’t pop right out of bed in the morning. Thankfully, that wasn’t really the point. The message is:

Consistency. Equanimity. Detachment.

This is a story about staying balanced, having a routine, and taking advantage of opportunities. Living in the world. Out of your head and into the moment.

Sudden flashes of insight are intoxicating, but consistency and perseverance win the day when it comes to growth and transformation. Soyen Shaku’s rules weren’t sexy—they were grounded and practical. What would your life look like if you moved through life honoring the same code?

• Show up every day

• Avoid highs and lows

• Live with integrity and compassion

• Be fearless, but not reckless

• Embrace each day, and don’t dwell on the past

We often get lost in our fantasies. Our hopes and dreams all carry with them a longing for escape. We yearn for something different. We often imagine that this future state will be a great deal more enjoyable than our present state. Be careful with this tendency.

The problem with all of this imagining and conceptualizing is that it often gets in the way. Do it a little—it energizes and inspires. Do it too much—you’ll never get anything done. In order to unlock your future plans, you must be able to show up and do the mundane work. The work that you’d rather avoid. If you’re constantly lost in thought, worrying about the past or dreaming about the future, that means you’re not doing the work in the present moment.

You can’t dream and work at the same time. There’s a place for both, but they’re mutually exclusive activities.

Start Where You Are

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Where can I find opportunities for growth hiding in plain sight?

• Where am I avoiding risk in the name of intellectual and spiritual "growth"?

Confront your circumstances. Leverage them. Avoid the trap of escapism. Regardless of your future plans, you have to start where you are. You don’t need to flee society to seek enlightenment, and you don’t need to obtain a new degree before launching your next venture. Be mindful of your tendency to rationalize avoidance behavior.

There’s a well-known saying in Buddhism:

“Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.”

It’s often interpreted to mean that nothing changes after awakening—you still wake up, do the work, live your life. Enlightenment doesn’t excuse you from reality.

But this quote holds another insight, often overlooked:

It doesn’t just describe life after enlightenment. It points to the path toward it. “Chop wood, carry water.” Not “look for inspiration,” or “read more books.”

Be consistent. Embrace each day. Live with intention, and be a good person. Be fearless, and don’t avoid opportunities when they come your way. It’s remarkable how well this works.

Success accrues over time. Most people fail because they have a hard time with the easy things.