Commitment and Experience

written by YeShey on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

If the experience is not what we expected when we made our commitment, should we drop the commitment?

Are commitment and experience connected?

Does our commitment depend on our experience?

In my humble opinion, my answer is no. The commitment has nothing to do with the experience

If the commitment is made from a knowing place. If we have done due diligence and know the path we are about to enter, some of the expected and unexpected complications, some of the expected and unexpected results. If the sources we have compiled our data from are reliable and trustworthy. If we make the decisions from a place of knowing ( as opposed to a place of fear ). If the answer has come from the knowing power of the heart and not from the darkness of the thinking mind.

Then the decision can be made from a place of clarity, a place of knowing and a place of confidence.

It is important to have commitment be independent of experience.  It is definite that some or many unwanted experiences will come. It is definite that some or many wanted experiences will remain elusive.

The future is uncertain and this means that there is infinite possibility in our future. Releasing the boundary of expectation allows us to let in the unknown and unexpected.  With the right view (our philosophical standpoint that is drawn from hearing, intellectual understanding and experience) we can establish sound responses to all experience.  The experience can be positive and it can be negative and the reaction will be from a place of wisdom and clarity.

We commit ourselves to the path and the commitment needs to be unconditional and independent of experience.

In dharma,

YeShey