To avoid traveling though the Dark Side, a Jedi must see things for how they are. 

It is very easy to simply like or dislike something based on our own preconceptions. This means, however, that we are not seeing the truth in the reality we are experiencing.  Rather, we are experiencing things we already have experienced and assuming through association that this current experience is the same or nearly like it.  Either way, it means we are not seeing the NOW.

In doing this, we create false truths which can and often do create disruption when they are challenged.  These challenges can come from extra experiences which do not correspond to our view of what is happening; they can come from other people pointing out the differences; and they can come from feelings of doubt which well up from within our selves.

 This means understanding our own filters and attempting to remove them from the perceived reality.
To view any situation with hope or fear will cloud reality and thus keep us from being able to make clear assessments.  This is also true of our own expectations of the situation.  Filters come from everything we have within our minds.  This includes things we like, enjoy, fancy, to things we dislike, do not enjoy, and do not fancy.  It also includes previous experiences. If we put our hand on a stove and it doesn’t burn, we may not know it sometimes gets hot.  The opposite is also true. If a stove is hot when we touch it, we may not know it is sometimes cold.  It is from our experiences that filters are made.  To rely upon them in all situations means we close ourselves to new experiences and alternate views of the same experience – such as the variations of the stove.

 All expectations of a situation will impede the Jedi from being open to Force.

A Jedi must see things in their most basic form. Seeing the situation as it is, with an open and accommodating attitude, means we can do so outside of our own filters.

An example would be a coin toss. If we flip a coin in the air 57 times and it lands on the ‘heads’ side every time, we may come to believe that it will ALWAYS do so.  But, we cannot judge EVERY coin used in a toss by this measurement. If we approach every coin toss (with or without the one that lands heads up every time) with a sense that there are many possibilities, we will be prepared for something other than what our expectations may have created for us.

A Jedi will connect strongly to the Force, build a foundation of peace, and the develop ability of honest assessment by taking joy in a simple, straight-forward approach to a life and abandoning hope and fear.

Hope and fear stem from our filters which have been built on previous experiences.  To be more exact, they are the filters we use when we’ve not enough experiences from our own past or those we’ve accepted as reality from others.  If we do not know the outcome but think favorably of the outcome, we use a HOPE filter. If we do not think the outcome will be favorable and we do not have enough information to base an informed opinion, we will use a FEAR filter.

 How to spot an Expectation

Expectations are sometimes very easy to recognize.  We have an expectation to be treated without abuse by others.  We have an expectation that when we are speaking to someone they will listen.  We have an expectation that when we ask a question, a response follows.

 It is not to say these are reasonable or unreasonable expectations. To lay claim to such things is to put ones own personal view on the matter.

 Sometimes expectations are not so easy to recognize.  If we are surprised at any time, this is an excellent example of when we had an expectation we were not aware of.  Any time we can say, “I never expected that to happen” is another example of an expectation we were unaware of.

When we are angry, it is because an expectation we had was not met.  This can sometimes be misconstrued. An action performed by another is merely that: an action. It can be interpreted to be either ‘good’ or ‘bad’ depending on your point of view; Or in other words, your expectation of the outcome of the action.

 When we become angry, we lose the ability to see the whole picture around us. We then exist in a place where our focus is on our own feelings and desires and not on the situation at hand.

 Expectations are not necessarily ‘bad’

Having read this, it does say we must remove our expectations in order to see the world and reality as it truly is.  It is important to note, however, that being human means we cannot wholly remove our expectations.  This may not be a bad thing.  Our expectations allow us the ability to draw a line to say what is and is not acceptable.  The major point of this step is not to COMPLETELY remove expectations from our lives but rather to remove MOST expectations.  This is because the less we have, the more harmonious our lives will be. 

Keeping expectations is a lot like keeping explosives.  The more we have, the more chances there are of an accident.  But knowing this, and understanding that there are responsibilities in keeping them can minimize the risk of explosion.  Also, if we become angry, knowing it is our expectations and NOT the actions of others puts the ability to be happy and/or harmonious again within our abilities.  It tells us that our feelings are our own and that we are the masters of them.

The One Truth

The Force is
The Force exists.  In and of itself , however, the Force does not have a Dark Side and Light Side. Instead, it simply IS. It is within the relationship of a person and the Force in which a Dark and Light Side is created and can be seen as if on a gauge.  On the farthest end of the Light, a persons every move is in accordance with the Force. On the farthest end of the Dark, a persons every action is intended to use the Force for their own motivations.
For nearly all Jedi, they operate from the middle leaning towards the Light Side in various degrees. On occasion, a Jedi can find them selves dwelling on the darker side of the gauge.  To avoid this, there are a few things a Jedi can learn.

The Two Motivations
It feels good
The first motivation for people is when something makes them feel good. This could be the feeling of satisfaction of doing a good job, eating that 3rd brownie because it tastes good and they feel awesome while they taste it or giving money to charity. It could be anything enticing the mind to tell them they are enjoying them selves.
The danger of the things that make people feel good is that it can develop attachment.  Many of the things a person does that make them feel good aren’t necessarily bad.  The problem arises when the removal of something causes a desire to be created that motivates a person to selfish thoughts.
It is for this reason a Jedi must be mindful of the things within their life in which they enjoy.

It feels bad
The second motivation for people is when something makes them feel bad.  This isn’t merely the small things that bother people. This is in reference to when people really reach a point where things are so bad things MUST change.
The motivation of feeling bad about something is very powerful. It runs the risk of the Dark Side as well.  When a person is motivated by vengeance or hatred this is an obvious gateway.  Sometimes, when a person changes because they no longer want to feel bad, they make great changes, only to harbor within their hearts the dark seed of their motivation.  This will, too, lead to the Dark Side by creating fear of the past repeating itself.
For a Jedi, it is important to recognize not only the motivations behind their own actions, but also the reasons why that motivation was originally created.

The Four Recognitions
Life is difficult
For many people, life is hard and painful.  Even if a Jedi’s life at the moment is pleasant, they are surrounded by wars, famine, and cruelty.  They are reminded that death is always just around the corner – even for them.
 
The difficulty has a cause
People suffer difficulty because they are constantly struggling to survive. They are constantly trying to prove their existence. Even Jedi may be extremely humble and self-deprecating, but even that is an attempt to create personal definition as they are defined by their humility. However, the harder people struggle to establish ourselves and their relationships, the more difficult the experience becomes.

The cause of difficulty can be ended
The struggle to survive, the effort people put forth to prove them selves and solidify their relationships is unnecessary. What a Jedi can learn is that they, and the world, can get along quite comfortably without all of the unnecessary posturing. A Jedi can just be a simple, direct and straight-forward person. A Jedi can form a simple relationship with their world, their coffee, spouse and friend. They do this by abandoning their expectations about how they think things should be.

The way to end the difficulty
Through the practice of mindfulness and awareness a Jedi can end the difficulty.  Being mindful a Jedi can be aware of all the things they use to torture them selves with. A Jedi can become mindful by abandoning their expectations about the way they think things should be and, out of their mindfulness, they begin to develop awareness about the way things really are. They will begin to develop the insight that things are really quite simple, that, as a Jedi, they can handle them selves and their relationships very well as soon as they stop being so manipulative and complex.

The Six Needs
Security
People want security. And much of this security comes from certainty. While there is no ABSOLUTE certainty, they want certainty the house will be the way it was when they left, the phone will work when they pick it up and the lights will turn on when they flip the switch.
As Jedi, security can be found in knowing the Force is always in motion and that they are a part of it.

Variety
At the same time people want security, they also crave variety. There needs to be enough uncertainty to make life interesting. A Jedi does not shelter them selves within their home and interacts with the world.

Importance
Deep down, people want to be important. They want their life to have meaning and significance. Everyone wants to matter. Knowing that they are working within the Force and that all actions matter, a Jedi’s life has meaning and significance.

Appreciation
People want to feel appreciated. They want to be cared for and cared about. A Jedi has the online community to meet this need. They should also look to be a part of their local community as well to develop offline connections.

Expansion
Some people may state they do not want to go beyond where they are. However, most people who state this are speaking out of fear of change. Within them, there is still a need to expand and grow. A Jedi is always looking to expand their knowledge and connection with the Force.

Contribution
People have a desire to contribute something of value. This could be to help others, to help animals or maybe to make the world a better place than we found it is in all of us. A Jedi’s life is based on how they can contribute back to the world.
 

The Eight Steps  
Remove Expectation
To avoid travelling though the Dark Side, a Jedi must see things for how they are.  This means understanding their own filters and attempting to remove them from the perceived reality.
To view any situation with hope or fear will cloud reality and thus keep the Jedi from being able to make clear assessments.  This is also true of the Jedi’s expectations of the situation.  All expectation of a situation will impede the Jedi from being open to Force.
A Jedi must see things simply, the situation as it is, with an open and accommodating attitude.
A Jedi will connect strongly to the Force, build a foundation of peace, and the develop ability of honest assessment by taking joy in a simple, straight-forward approach to a life and abandoning hope and fear.

Work with the Force intentions
When a Jedi has come to view situations without their own expectations, hopes and fears, they can then understand there is no longer a need to attempt to manipulate the situation to meet their own expectations. There is no need to try to make the situation in to the Jedi’s preconceived notions of how they think it should be.

A Jedi looks to work with what is.
This will allow the Jedi’s intention to be more inline with the intention of the Force.
Speaking with the confidence of truth
When a Jedi is inline with the intention of the Force, what they say will be said with the confidence of truth.  Since the Jedi is not trying to manipulate the situation to be the way they think it should be, they do not need to be hesitant about what they say.  There is no need for phony confidence because the Jedi will say what needs to be said in a simple and genuine way.

Keeping it simple
It is human nature to complicate issues. Jedi practice a life of simplicity. They have a simple straight-forward relationship with everything – from their family and friends to their dinner.  By giving up all unnecessary and frivolous complications a Jedi can clear up clouded relationships.

Jedi and occupation
Jedi come from all walks of life and are involved in varying occupations. Many Jedi do not particularly enjoy their jobs.  They see it as a necessity and see it as something that they have to do as opposed to all the things they want to do. A Jedi should either be glad of the job they do or do something else.  It is important to have a simple relationship with a job.  When a Jedi is working, they need to do it properly, with attention to detail.

The right approach
Jedi often approach their relationship with the Force with a need to conquer the Dark Side and promote the Light Side.  They are locked in combat with themselves and try to remove all traces of negative tendency. The right approach does not involve struggling at all.  When a Jedi sees things as they are, they can work with them, gently and without any kind of aggression.  For it is the aggression that that germinates the seeds of frustration.  Frustration leads to anger.  Jedi know where anger leads.

Being mindful
A Jedi is mindful of they way they talk, they way they perform their job, their posture, attitude towards friends and family.  A Jedi must be mindful is every thing they do with clarity and precision.

Living in the Now
People are usually absorbed in absentmindedness.  They are focused on entertainment they have either taken in or perhaps in speculation of something in the future.  Some people worry about their future, others lament in their past.  A Jedi must be in the Now.  Only when they are completely absorbed in the Now can they truly see things as they truly are.
This can only come through some sort of discipline, such as meditation.  Sitting in meditation cuts through the absentmindedness and provides a space in our preoccupation within our selves.

The Goal
The goal of the Jedi is the cessation of passion, aggression and ignorance; the cessation of the struggle against the Dark Side to prove our existence to the world, to survive. We don’t have to struggle to survive after all. The struggle was just an extra complication that we added to our lives because we had lost our confidence in the way things are. We no longer need to manipulate things as they are into things as we would like them to be.

My specialty at the Institute is Communication.

I have been studying the path of Jedi Realism since 2007.  Within my studies, I have learned much about who I am, who I want to be, and how I can become that person.

I am married and have been since 1997 and I have 3 nearly adult children.