Buddhism: Eightfold Path – Samyak-Saṅkalpa (Right Intention) – 02/08
🧭 Samyak-Saṅkalpa (Right Intention) – Aligning the Mind with Wisdom
📖 The Second Limb of the Eightfold Path (Āryāṣṭāṅgamārgaḥ) – For Sanatana Decode
Pāli (Majjhima Nikāya 117)
“Katamo ca, bhikkhave, sammā-saṅkappo? Nekkhamma-saṅkappo, abyāpāda-saṅkappo, avihiṁsā-saṅkappo.”
Translation: And what, monks, is right intention? The intention of renunciation, the intention of goodwill, the intention of harmlessness.
🧠 What is Samyak-Saṅkalpa?
Samyak-Saṅkalpa (Pāli: Sammā-Saṅkappa) means right resolve, right commitment, or right thought.
If Right View (Samyag-Dṛṣṭi) is the vision, then Right Intention is the direction in which the heart and mind begin to move. It reflects your inner compass and the quality of your aspirations.
This step helps transition from seeing the truth to living it.
🌱 The Three Dimensions of Right Intention
1. Nekkhamma Saṅkappa (Renunciation or Letting Go)
Turning away from sensual craving, addiction, and material obsession.
Sanskrit Equivalent: Nirvedasaṅkalpaḥ
Modern Insight: Choosing simplicity over consumerism.
2. Abyāpāda Saṅkappa (Goodwill or Loving-kindness)
Cultivating thoughts free from anger, resentment, or revenge.
Sanskrit Equivalent: Maîtrīsaṅkalpaḥ
Modern Insight: “I don’t have to agree with everyone, but I choose peace over poison.”
3. Avihiṁsā Saṅkappa (Harmlessness or Compassion)
The intention to avoid causing harm to any living being in thought, word, or deed.
Sanskrit Equivalent: Ahiṁsāsaṅkalpaḥ
Modern Insight: Extending empathy, even when unseen—toward people, animals, the planet.
📜 Sanskrit Reference – From Yogācāra Buddhist Sources
“सङ्कल्पशुद्धिः धर्मपथस्य द्वितीयं चरणं।”
Saṅkalpaśuddhiḥ dharmapathasya dvitīyaṁ caraṇaṁ.
Translation: Purity of intention is the second step on the path of Dharma.
🪞 Why Intention Matters More Than Action
“Cetanāhaṁ, bhikkhave, kammaṁ vadāmi.” – Aṅguttara Nikāya
Translation: It is volition, monks, that I call karma.
✅ Actions arise from intentions.
✅ Right intention purifies future karma.
✅ Even if outcomes falter, noble intention bears merit.
🔍 Right vs Wrong Intention
| Wrong Intention | Right Intention |
|---|---|
| “How do I gain more?” | “How can I let go and simplify?” |
| “How can I hurt them back?” | “Can I respond with understanding?” |
| “I’ll teach them a lesson!” | “Let me not harm, even in silence.” |
| “I need this now, at all cost!” | “Do I truly need this, or am I grasping?” |
🧘 Cultivating Right Intention Through Practice
🧠 1. Daily Intention Setting
Start each morning with:
“I intend to be mindful, kind, and harmless in all that I do today.”
🫀 2. Journaling Your Intentions
Each night, ask:
- Were my actions aligned with my best self?
- Where did anger, greed, or carelessness creep in?
🧘 3. Loving-Kindness Meditation (Mettā Bhāvanā)
Repeat silently:
“May all beings be happy.
May all beings be free from harm.
May I walk the path with kindness.”
🔬 Modern Examples of Right Intention
| Context | Applied Right Intention |
|---|---|
| Business | Prioritize ethical profits, not exploitation |
| Social Media | Share to uplift, not to provoke or gain clout |
| Parenting | Guide with patience, not fear or control |
| Relationships | Listen with presence; respond, don’t react |
| Environmental Choices | Choose sustainable options out of compassion |
🔔 Benefits of Practicing Samyak-Saṅkalpa
- Purifies the mind and speech before they manifest
- Reduces karma-producing actions rooted in greed/hatred
- Deepens meditation and insight
- Leads to peaceful interpersonal relationships
- Builds character and mental clarity over time
🌼 Dhammapada Verse on Thought
Pāli (Dhp 1):
“Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā…”
“With our thoughts, we make the world.”
Every noble life begins with noble thought.
🔥 A Buddhist Insight to Reflect On
“Hatred does not cease by hatred. Hatred ceases only by love. This is an eternal law.” – Dhammapada 5
Right Intention is not just about being nice—it’s about breaking the cycle of reaction.
🛠️ Practical Action Plan
| Time of Day | Intention Practice |
|---|---|
| Morning | Set your 3-fold intention (let go, be kind, do no harm) |
| Midday | Take a mindful pause before big decisions |
| Evening | Reflect on your responses & revise intentions for tomorrow |
✨ Final Reflection
Samyak-Saṅkalpa is a quiet revolution. The world doesn’t need louder opinions—it needs purer intentions. With right view, and now right intention, you begin to realign your internal compass toward awakening.
“Where the mind goes, the life follows.”
Make sure it follows the path to peace.