Main Entry: ex·pec·ta·tion
Pronunciation: "ek-"spek-'tA-sh&n, ik-
Function: noun
1 : the act or state of expecting : ANTICIPATION
2 a : something expected <not up to expectations> b : basis for expecting : ASSURANCE <they have
every expectation of success> c : prospects of inheritance -- usually used in plural
3 : the state of being expected
4 a : EXPECTANCY 2b b : EXPECTED VALUE
- ex·pec·ta·tion·al /-'tA-sh&-n&l, -shn&l/ adjective
A Buddhist might perceive this phenomenon as having the highest potential for being the root of all suffering whether it is evidenced in positive or negative expectation and exception.
A Taoist would certainly see these expectations as in constraint of and frustrating the true self, the Cháng te, the eternal constant.
Maybe a middle moral adage might be,
all things come,
not to he who waits,
but to he who expects
nothing at all.
BB
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Not to be confused with expectoration...
Tue, November 9, 2004 - 12:57 PMhawking and spitting's
not very polite -
but drowning in phlegm brings
a long, dark night.
PS
I think "hold expectations lightly" is a good dictum, myself... To be without expectations seems humanly impossible - I couldn't walk if I didn't expect the ground to be solid under my feet, and my body to perform the accustomed motions without constant supervision. To release them readily when they no longer serve their purpose, that's a GREAT life skill - I'd have taken fewer tumbles if I'd learned it well... ;-) -
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*spits*
Tue, November 9, 2004 - 12:59 PMSo *that's* why people use those foreshortened emoticons ;)
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Re: Not to be confused with expectoration...
Wed, November 17, 2004 - 2:12 PMX [10] Virtue
While perfecting the spirit,
can you do so without disrupting
the Mysterious Unity of body and spirit?
While concentrating on
the strength of yielding
can you do so without assertion?
While unraveling the inner vision
can you ignore the imperfections?
In loving the people as a community
can you do so without relying on history?
In extending the strength of yielding
can you play the role
of the Mysterious Mother?
Can you understand the potential
for the 10,000 things
to be found in the four directions
without external information?
If so, then
give them existence,
and love and provide for them.
give them existence
but do not expect their obedience.
encourage their development
but do not control them.
This is called Te, the Mysterious Virtue.
But in the mud and scum of things,
there alway, alway something sings.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Virtue can only be achieved by asking the hard questions
without regard to the obvious answers.
Your responsibilities to the world increase
in proportion to the success of your endeavor.
First, ask the questions.
Second, accept responsibility,
for there is need which non-seekers will never satisfy.
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Re: expectation
Tue, November 9, 2004 - 1:03 PMI'm scarred beyond redemption by my training and profession, which is statistics.
I'm quite comfortable with the idea of an "expectation" as simply an expression of the desire to compress a range of possible outcomes into one "central" outcome.
The Zen Statistics example is that of rolling a die: the Expected Outcome is three and a half, which of course is neither a possible outcome nor an expected outcome.
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Re: expectation
Tue, November 9, 2004 - 5:53 PMI think it's probably good if your expectations grow from your goals and the sense that one is working toward those goals. Of course, most of us 'expect' to reach our goals, but this is entirely contingent on circumstances conspiring with us instead of against us so it's still best to keep in mind that even our best efforts can be thwarted.
