I’ve recently noticed just how much setting an intention can improve my meditation practice. This realization actually inspired me to create the latest series of Sitting With Bodhi, focusing on the theme of intention. What I found is that setting an intention brings a clear sense of direction to our practice. It helps us catch distractions early on and sometimes even avoid them entirely.
Setting an intention isn’t just a one-time thing. You need to revisit it throughout your practice. This is part of what makes intentions so powerful—they give us something specific to focus on repeatedly, like a compass guiding us. When we stray, our intention helps realign us.
Our conscious intentions often clash with our unconscious ones. The mind is rarely without purpose; it brings emotional baggage such as worries, irritations, and desires into our practice. These distractions are actually unconscious intentions that pull us in various directions without our choosing.
Sometimes our bodies reveal unconscious intentions. Ever find yourself scratching an itch or slumping your posture without realizing it? These actions happen before we even become aware of them.
In theory, we always have some sort of intention in meditation, like focusing on our breath or cultivating kindness. But often, these are too vague. We need intentions that are more precise and tailored to our current state.
For a relevant intention to arise, you need to know two things: where you are and where you want to go. Being aware of your current state means paying attention as you prepare for meditation, noticing if you’re tired, irritable, fidgety, or perhaps focused and relaxed.
Knowing where you’d like to go isn’t about expecting specific outcomes. It’s about having an aspiration or direction you want to head. For example, if you’re fidgety, you might aim for stillness. If you’re feeling critical, you might aim for appreciation. If you’re kind, you could aim to deepen that kindness.
Your intention should be specific enough to monitor. If your intention is to sit still, you’ll know if you’ve forgotten it when you start fidgeting. If you aim to meet every distraction with kindness, getting annoyed with distractions means you’ve strayed from your intention.
A vague intention like “be kinder” or “be more mindful” isn’t very helpful. It’s too hard to measure in the moment. Choose a specific and actionable intention.
The Buddha said that karma is intention because karma means action. Actions, which start as intentions, shape our lives. Our conscious intentions meet our unconscious habits, and through consistent effort, we can develop new, more helpful habits that override the old ones.
By choosing and sticking with positive intentions, we shape our life and become happier, more at ease, and more at peace with ourselves. This showcases the true power of intention.