Messages In This Digest (1 Message)
- 1.
- Intentions and actions From: John Kimbrough
Message
- 1.
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Intentions and actions
Posted by: "John Kimbrough" [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Fri Dec 1, 2006 5:30 am (PST)
John C. Kimbrough
Bangkok, Thailand
November 30th, 2006
Intentions and actions
Our manifestation of energy in what is known as life
takes place on various planes.
--------------------- --------- --------- ----
There is the physical plane in our behaviors, habits
and actions each day and moment of our life.
There is the verbal plane in our words and verbal
expressions each day and moment of our life.
And then there is the mental plane in both our
thoughts and feelings each day and moment of our life.
Part of our mental plane is our intentions or purpose
behind what it is that we say and do each day.
Some of our intentions are based on need and
wholesomeness in the completion of their performance,
such as when we work, or go to the market, or pursue
the need for clothing, shelter and companionship with
others.
Buddhist teachings and disciplines which have as their
purpose to make us happier, healthier and more mindful
human beings address our intentions, words and actions
and give us guidelines as to how to structure and
perform them.
In religious and spiritual practices, much attention
is given to what out actions are, sometimes looking at
them as being the determining factor as to whether
they are skillful or not or in some religious
contexts, sinful or not.
Buddhism places greater attention as to what our
intentions are as we go about doing various things
each day.
If we are playing cards, could it be to ease the
loneliness of ourselves and others or provide a forum
for meaningful discussion between and among people?
If we visit a brothel, are we doing it to exploit
anothers need or greed, or provide some kind of
insightful instruction to improve an individuals
mental and physical health?
Are we watching television in order to learn and be
informed or because we are bored or need an escape?
According to Buddhism, it is our intention regarding
what we do that is the most important thing to think
about.
Of course, Buddhism specifically instructs us to
refrain from certain things in how we speak, what we
do and what kind of livelihood we engage in, because
in their very nature, they harm and exploit others.
We should refrain from lying, or using harsh and
slanderous words or engaging in gossip or frivolous
talk.
We should refrain from killing, stealing and any kind
of sexual misconduct.
And we should refrain from engaging in ways of earning
a living such as selling or trafficking in humans,
drugs, poisons, weapons and meat.
The guidelines for our intentions are rather
straightforward and easy to understand.
One is that our actions to others should be based on
good will, trying to be friendly and trying to assist
and be open to them and their life.
Another is that we should be practicing harmlessness
to them, so that we have no ill will or intention to
harm or hurt them in any manner.
And the third and last is that as we go about our day
and the moments of the day, we do things with the
intention to renunciation. This can be very difficult
to do, because it means that there are no selfish
desires behind those things that we do and we are
actively engaged in giving up things.
When we base our intentions on such a thing, we are
unlikely to harm others while at the same time
weakening those tendencies within that according to
Buddhist teachings and also the teachings of other
spiritual practices and disciplines give rise to pain,
confusion and suffering.
Living our life based on these intentions, known as
right intentions within the framework of The Noble
Eightfold Path of Buddhism is considered to be a
manifestation of wisdom regarding life and as we
habitually do these things, that wisdom grows.
The world has always been a place filed with
suspicion, ill will, anger and fear. Buddhism
teaches us that all of these things have their origin
in our own mind and by thinking, speaking and acting
in a certain manner, we work to weaken them, both
within ourselves, and in some instances, within others
and the world as a whole.
Perhaps to have such an understanding is more
important for those who are in a care giving or
leadership role in the various countries, culture and
societies of the world.
But even if we are not in such a position, they give
us a wholesome and healthy worthwhile objective to aim
for and work to each day of our life.
The obstacles to making this effort are at times
unknown to us. Many times, the greatest obstacles are
within though our own ignorance and conditioning, or
in the attitudes of our culture, countrymen, family
and friends.
It is hard to find a wise friend in a world where so
much emphasis seems to be placed on sensual excitement
and pleasure, comfort, convenience, winning and there
is a general air of impatience, intolerance and
disrespect for others.
In the midst of desire, money and the pursuit of
pleasure, fame and position, we find murder in
Manhattan and Myanmar, suffering in the suburbs and
Singapore and fear among the free and in France.
It may take a long time or even a lifetime to see
beyond our ignorance and put our faith in something
that can elevate us from those things that cause most
of the pain and suffering in this world in these
modern times and have in the past.
If we are mindful about what our intentions are and
attempt to bring them into line with the Buddhist
teachings and disciplines, we will be going a long way
to making ourselves healthier and happier people and
becoming people who add to the health and happiness of
others and the world.
--------------------- --------- --------- -----
John C. Kimbrough has taught English, Yoga and
Buddhism on a full time, part time and volunteer
basis in Asia for the last 20 years. He did his
teacher training for these subjects in Singapore,
England and India and currently lives and teaches in
Bangkok, Thailand. He also does volunteer work in
Banteay Meanchey province in Cambodia, teaching Yoga
to prisoners in the local provincial prison and to
individuals disabled by land mines. His writings on
Yoga, Buddhism and better health and living are widely
available on the internet. email
johnckimbrough@yahoo.com . © copyright 2006 by John C.
Kimbrough
Yours in Yoga,
John
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