We have learned how to do things by thinking . . . and thinking can be a good tool. It’s not the whole tool set. When all you have is a hammer every problem tends to look like a nail. We think, choose and act–well, sometimes. A lot of the time we just think and then think some more. Perhaps even more problematic is that what we call thought is often just a set of random associations based on the big thing we call fear, its smaller brother anxiety, then there are the cousins inertia and insecurity.
Practice differs from thought – it is practice in being and doing. There is a place for thinking and analysis but there is another area that is very important in our training, development, and ability to do things – the cultivation of this area requires practice.
I would call this the area of “intent”. Other related terms are will, commitment, focus, and spirit – the Chinese “Chi”. Intent can cut through thought with both power and speed. “I”s can be cultivated. When people really want to develop or make something happen it is always there – it is not often spoken of.
Intent begins with the ability to wish. You got to want it and you got to want it bad. We can look at what we really want – then we can cultivate our intent.
Intent and spirit are not something we can understand. They are forces. They don’t seem to increase when we understand or think about them. They do from practice. They grow through focus and attention. The cultivation of intent is a legacy in both the Zen and Fourth Way traditions. Intent can be taught and cultivated. Working in a group, or Sangha, can make efforts stronger. It’s not really taught in words. These words I’m writing are a song about intent.
Intent is a gift we all posses. A lost coin.
Intent is not in the realm of thought and not to be understood.
Photo by JK***
“Perhaps even more problematic is that what we call thought is often just a set of random associations….” This line really struck home for me. If I CHOSE to think thoughts when it was time to think, and slowed down or stopped the endless babbling of random associations that goes on all day, I can only imagine what life would be like?!!!! What integrity my life would have.
I would like add to Rebecca’s statement, which struck home for me, this:
The line “A lot of the time we just think and then think some more….” reminded me how much time I spend doing exactly this “think[ing] and think[ing] some more”.
If I can shift from thinking to wishing to intending, I would have more time to DO, to ACT and then yes, “What integrity [our] lives would have.”
Thanks!
Intent. Focus. Attention. Difficult words…
I never really wanted to hear them. How wonderful would it be if things would just fall into place.”Naturally”
A long time I practised Zazen with a very trust related “Everything is perfect as it is” attitude. I still do it that way. But still-like in the very beginning-doubt creeps in. Is this it? What if not? Can I trust this? It does not seem to always work to rely on “trust”. Why is this so?
Sometimes it seems I just can trust my own effort-or maybe I can at least make myself feel better and safer with it. There seem to be moments even in sitting when faith is not enough.
As Kapleau writes somewhere in a comment about Dogens practice: “The hard but safe way”
This post resonated with me for several reasons. One is that is clarifies a position in Zen that seems to have a consistently nebulous definition. That is, on the role of thought versus the experience of beingness. I can locate both in my awareness and find that they maintain distinct spheres of experience.
In fact, it seems intention is the bridge between thinking and simply being. What I intend to be, is in many cases, what I do, and therefore become. This is congruent, from what I can tell, with the realities of no-self and fundamental impermanence, in that they point towards empty spaces in my personhood that occur between thoughts and activities. Intention could be said to arise from the same dynamic ground of being, as a sort of symphony of the Self, that forever is subject to revision and change.
This reminds me of Richard Feynman. It’s a long quotation, but it’s just too beautiful to be withheld: “I feel a responsibility as a scientist who knows the great value of a satisfactory philosophy of ignorance, and the progress made possible by such a philosophy, progress which is the fruit of freedom of thought… to proclaim the value of this freedom and to teach that doubt is not to be feared, but that it is to be welcomed as the possibility of new potential for human beings. If you know you are not sure, you have a chance to improve the situation.” Isn’t this stunning?
Sean@
Thank you for response. The kind of meticulous analysis you brought to the post is something I feel will be very imporatant as the teaching moves to the west. Please let us hear some more from you.
Chris@
Thanks Chris. I love Feynman.
Ceceil@
Thank you for your interesting post. It is great to have you join us.
Rebecca@
You always manage to notice important parts. I appreciate that. I think you are really listening -which is very nice.
Liz@
Thank you for a thoughtful response. Like Rebecca you also seem to be able to find the important aspects. It is very gratifying for me.