When you do something there is an effect. There is no escaping the laws of cause and effect, even though Buddha goes beyond the laws of cause and effect. Karma is simply the results of your actions. The Buddhist wheel of life splits the circle of karma into two halves, one 'good' and the other 'bad'. I prefer to think of all karma as learning experiences, some are wholesome and some are unwholesome. Hopefully we learn from both.
The saying "What comes around goes around" nails karma on the head. Your present life is the sum total of all of your actions of body, speech and mind. It is also the sum total of all activity of the present universe....but that's not within your control, so when it comes to developing your character, Zen practice teaches how to be responsible for your actions and how they influence others. This is the path away from self centered behavior and toward all inclusive activity that respects the uniqueness, dignity, and views of others. Each of our actions is a ripple in the big pond. How we bring benefit to others through our actions is the Bodhisattva path.
When I look honestly at myself I am sometimes appalled at my self-centeredness, as well as at the thoughtless ways I interact with people sometimes. As I heard one well known Zen teacher say, her practice has progressed from 'me me me me me me me' to 'me me me me you me me'! Suzuki Roshi said that our usual way is to point a finger towards ourselves, but that Zen is pointing a finger away from ourselves. Something changes quite profoundly when we become concerned about others. Eventually, taking care of them is taking care of ourselves, for in the non-dual world of dharma there is only total subjectivity, each being is your own face. What would the world be like if we could each add a few more 'yous' to our 'me me me' mantra?!
Walking gently
Each step touches
The whole earth
Karma
