CONDITIONED EXPECTATIONS:

[Pravin Kumar]

Conditioned Expectations:

The expectations you have are the expectations you put on not only yourself, but all of life. Without a settled mind this will not be seen so your expectations will continue to be your controlling energy...

There will be many unpleasant things that occur in life, but they're only considered unpleasant because of the expectations you put on them and this is where suffering arises from. This expectation process seems to be at our core, but if it wasn’t the creation of a you who expects would never arise and you wouldn't need for things to be different so there wouldn't be a need to try and make something pleasant; after all expecting life to always be pleasant is how most people live. Always wanting life pleasant is why so many are in a constant state of discontentment, it has nothing to do with what's going on outside of you, it has everything to do what's going on inside. Nothing can cause discontentment unless it's allowed and it's only allowed because of some expectation.

Because of the conditioning in place most people will just go along with what society and the so called experts have to say. To much is taken as the norm without looking to see the underlying truth and this is why there is so much expectations. The expectations you have for something are the expectations you put on not only yourself, but all of life. Without a settled mind this will not be seen so your expectations will continue to be the controlling energy in place. Expectations lead to suffering, but this suffering isn't necessary. In the present moment I have found suffering doesn't truly exist, not because unpleasant things don't happen, but because there are no expectations to make it so...

MICHAEL CUPO

[eye_of_tiger]

Pravin,

I have read as well as having experienced this many times in my own life, that things are rarely if ever as bad/serious/disastrous as what we expected or anticipated that they might be.

What then do you feel is the difference (if any) between the meanings of the two words "anticipation" and "expectation"?

Please note that his question is also open to any other member who wishes to contribute to this discussion.

Brian