Right Intention

I don't believe I've ever written about this before, but if I'm wrong, I apologize. Something that I hear about a lot, everywhere I go, in every state, even now in Spain, is hard work. I believe in hard work. I think hard work leads to a lot of very beneficial things in life and intrinsically feels good. However, I do not believe it leads one towards happiness, nor do I think it necessarily accomplishes anything more than a large exertion of effort. Anyone who knows me well would likely not describe me as "a hard worker." Although anyone who has every worked with me would probably tell you that I am most often one of the best workers they've ever had. It baffles even me sometimes and I'm the one living by this philosophy that I believe works better than the "hard work" dogma that the rest of the Puritan world is teaching. Right intention (as in correct intention) is a Buddhist principle that essentially says that one can work all they want in life, but if one is working with the wrong intentions they should not be surprised when the work rarely leads anywhere or accomplishes any greater cause. What I take this to mean is that one can define work in any number of ways. Work when one is a student is to listen, become soft and teachable, read and memorize and learn new vocabularies, theories, and methods. Work when one is a runner means practicing regularly, learning more efficient techniques, and acquiring useful gear to aid in the task of running. When one is building a house, work can be defined as lifting heavy objects, making proper cuts and measurements, keeping things flush and level and put together in an appropriate manner. So "work" can mean a lot of things. Essentially it boils down to exerting effort toward a goal. However, in many walks of life this word takes on a very narrow meaning. It means making the end goal of all your effort be the acquiring of wealth and things. This, by Buddhist principles, would likely be considered, wrong intention.

In my experience the individuals who make up the larger groups who consider this the "correct" if not the "only" way that a person can spend his or her time on the planet are largely of lower education and suffering from extremely low expectations from life. They confuse "work" with "stress." They believe that work is an obligation from birth and that it must not be enjoyable or stimulating. It is what one does to make money. Of course this is ridiculous as anyone who has achieved a career in medicine, research, architecture, the arts and sciences, teaching or any other field where one gets to use his or her skills and intellect to solve problems or create things of enormous beauty can tell you that their job is at least moderately fulfilling and that the money is better in these arenas as well. A philosopher of right intention would suggest that this is because these individuals are not only working hard but are working with the correct intention for their work. It is focused toward happiness and toward ending or alleviating suffering, bot in themselves and others. Perhaps a good example of "wrong intention" would be someone who believes work must be hard, stressful, and joyless and that he or she is supposed to suffer. This may cause an individual to focus his or her efforts on the mundane and uninteresting. He might create nobility in his work where there is none and defend his efforts even despite his own suffering and the suffering he is bringing to other's lives. This individual will likely suggest that his work is holding together the fabric of society and that without these truly "hard" workers we would live in disarray. This person may be absolutely sure of this stance and back it to the point of violence, bringing even greater suffering on himself and on others. Right intention does not imply that one's work will never be frustrating or challenging or even frightening at times, but does suggest that the greater goal of reducing suffering and bringing more peace and happiness to the world outweighs the day to day effort exerted and brings greater fulfillment and deeper sense of joy. Anyone can swing a hammer at a nail. This in and of itself is not right or wrong. What is right or wrong is what one attaches to this action. If it becomes the work of an uneducated or poor or untalented person, it will likely destroy this individual. He will act like the person he has defined himself as through his work. If one can remove that judgment and continue to learn and grow and make wise choices in other areas; swinging a hammer can be a rewarding and highly skilled job; even an artform. This is right intention. Mind control. Stress managment. Reduction of suffering. Continual growth and progress. And intrinsically...joy.