Intentions in Life

Intentions in Life
(Vinod Anand)

Much is said and written about how important intention is to our lives, but there is a whole lot of confusion around that word. A working definition of intention is: ‘to have in mind a purpose or plan, to direct the mind, to aim’, making it seem much the same as a goal.

But a closer look will show us differences between the two. Goals define a place to get to the destination. The focus is always the future: Am I going to reach this goal? Will I be happy when I do? What comes next?

There is less concern with what is happening to you in the present moment. With setting intention, however, your attention is on the ever-present ‘now,’ more than being oriented toward a future outcome.

This is a path or practice that requires you to remain aware of the unfolding each present moment. You set your intentions based on understanding what matters most to you, and then you make a commitment to align, on an ongoing basis, your decisions and actions with your intentions do shape and colour your goals -- their progress, their stages of unfolding, as well as choices you then make or don’t make in the achievement of them, and so clarity of intention is a first step.

One can want to become a doctor to heal people, or because one sees it as a profession that is respected and held in high esteem, or even because one simply want to make loads of money. Attitudes and actions will vary for each of these. Some intentions can be specific and about something in particular -- to follow some creative pursuit; to switch to a new career; to get healthy and physically fit; to spend more quality time with loved ones; to enjoy time alone. Or they may be more general -- to be more calm, more active, more involved with life.

There are many ways to get to any of these, so short or long-term goals in support of these intentions can then follow. Often, just a few of our intentions are conscious and purposeful; others are more shadowy or altogether hidden even from our conscious selves. In addition, we all have multiple intentions which may either support or oppose each other.

Some of these have more power than others, and it is better to be able to consider and choose which ones these are. What then makes ‘good’ intentions good or ‘bad’ intentions bad? The Buddha’s simple yet profound teachings on this are a helpful guiding principle:

Intentions are good if they lead to good results for self and others, and bad if they lead to bad results. The Buddha tells his seven-year-old son Rahula that knowing how to act in life is actually simple: before you do something, consider if it will lead to benefit or harm; if it will be beneficial, go ahead. “Then, while you go on doing things, keep on considering if they are beneficial or not”.

Many people are surprised that when they take time to sort out and declare their intentions, help and support seem to appear almost magically. But this is no supernormal phenomenon; the magic simply is that by setting an intention, you make it clear to yourself and others just what you plan to do. You become more sensitive; you notice things and opportunities you otherwise might have overlooked; you listen to what people are saying or teaching; you open yourself to help and inspiration.