SKILLFUL INTENTION ―Whatever one frequently thinks and ponders, that will become the inclination of the mind.‖ -MN 19 The final factor of the noble eightfold path is skillful intentions. In the section on kamma we noted that our intentions are the most important aspect of our physical, verbal, and mental actions. The Buddha described intentions (thoughts) as either skillful or unskillful (wholesome or unwholesome). He noted that his thoughts/intentions could be categorized as 3 types. The 3 corresponding sets of unskillful and skillful intentions are: Unskillful Intentions
Skillful Intentions
Desire, greed, lust
Non-desire (generosity/renunciation) Non-ill-will (lovingkindness) Non-harmfulness (compassion)
Ill-will, anger, hate, fear Harmfulness, cruelty
For each of these pairs, we need to discern for ourselves when our thoughts are skillful and when they are unskillful. With skillful effort (page 29), we wish to cultivate the skillful thoughts/intentions and abandon the unskillful ones. Using the 4 foundations of mindfulness to investigate the 3 sets of intentions helps us to discern the wholesome from the unwholesome. When we are caught up in greed or desire, we can recognize that it is unskillful. We investigate the sensations of the breath and body, the feeling tones and mind states, etc. 88
