Right intentions

We often overlook the severity of our intentions because it seems so private and ephemeral. However, a careful self examination will soon reveal the opposite. Intentions are the seeds of our thoughts and actions. They are the building blocks of our behaviour and the foundation to our character. Through each intention we build ideas that lead to actions which grow into habits and form lasting personalities, ultimately determining our destinies. Intentions are therefore real, powerful and productive. Learning about right intentions and practicing its importance is a crucial Buddhist training. The art of which can allow us to become masters of our own destinies. Through nurturing right intentions, we can be constant gardeners of fields of positive consequences. So what do Buddhists consider as ‘right intentions’?

The practice of right intention is one of the Noble Eightfold paths. It is defined by the Buddha as involving three types: the intention of renunciation, the intention of good will or non-aversion, and the intention of harmlessness. These are respectively opposed to the three types of wrong intention – desire, ill will and harmfulness. From our attachments springs the unwholesome root of greed, and thus renunciation is necessary to counteract desire since they are mutually exclusive. In a similar manner, the intention of good will counters that of ill will, and the intention of harmless erodes those of harmfulness.

All this may sound quite simple in words, yet how can we integrate these teachings into our everyday lives? Furthermore, our cultural surroundings as well as the society we live in constantly pose to us challenges such as those created by the malevolent intentions of others and complicated situations which are often not black and white. Sometimes, these challenges can cause us to easily fall into the trap of attempting to combat the ill intents of others with equally ill intents of our own. The result is that we contribute to, rather than halt, this vicious cycle of unwholesome intentions.

It is important to seek clarity and the right view of a situation, and also have an awareness of our motivations. Most of our immediate intentions are usually based upon an instinctive sense of self-centredness. If someone were to purposely hurt you, betray you or spread rumours about you, would your first reaction be anger and an urge to seek vengeance? Or would you try to understand where they are coming from, and why they took such actions against you? If the fault of another person causes you to lose something that you had worked long and hard for, would you want to firstly reclaim what you had lost at their costs? Or would you console them right away and make sure they aren’t feeling too upset about what they had done? Naturally, many of us would probably first respond with the former intentions rather than the latter because our judgement can easily become clouded by our selfish intents. Instead, if we take a step back, remove ourselves from all attachment, and look at the picture with a wider field of view and less self-centredness, we often find that we can understand others and their circumstances much better.

As we develop an understanding that all sentient beings seek happiness and elimination from suffering, we come to realise that it is through love, compassion and wisdom that we can do so. Only through cultivating pure aspirations in our minds, can we then begin to empower ourselves into leading positive and conscious lives.