Karma and Mining for Joy
A few days ago, I was walking around our neighborhood. The experience often feels like a repetition of crossroads, conversations, to-do lists, and the rhythm of our feet—sometimes trudging along just to get steps and exercise.
But when I slow the mental chatter, I notice islands where people have planted and nurtured flowers. These moments give me a feeling of joy.
Caption: A bee at work—nature’s reminder that joy is found in the smallest, busiest moments.
You could say that the actions of those gardeners months ago were karma that landed on me during my walk. This aligns with what Thich Nhat Hanh taught:
“I inherit the results of my actions of body, speech, and mind—my actions are my continuation.”
Here, that continuation is the joy given to me, a trudging passerby.
At the same time, while trudging along busy streets, we are—in moments of mindfulness—mining for joy. If not now, when? Walking is an opportunity to practice this. I’m still at the beginning of understanding walking meditation, but I know that when we focus on what’s around us—the flowers, the wind, the earth—we often find happiness. It’s not about achieving anything. It’s about recognizing that joy is already here, waiting to be noticed.
Caption: A flower in full bloom, seen on a walk. Beauty doesn’t demand attention—it simply is.
The flowers need no adornment. Their beauty is part of nature. Nor does the flower stand alone. It contains the nurturing of the gardener, the work of the bees, the sun and rain, the earth. The person pausing to look becomes part of that meeting.
Looking carefully, we can see that some of the blooms are beginning to fade. As much as we love the flowers, we cannot hold on to them. They will fade and die, reminding us that things are not permanent. We can care for them and enjoy their beauty without possessing them.
And there is joy in knowing that, when the conditions are right, there can be flowers again.
John Unwin Photography 