Dear Friends,
The second path factor is right (or wise) intention, sometimes translated as wise thought, resolve, or Gil uses the word consideration. It is the bridge between our views and how we act in the world.
Right intention has three parts, to counter the three kinds of wrong intention. (See MN 19 Two Kinds of Thought)
- Thoughts of desire are countered by thoughts of renunciation (we’ll unpack this word!)
- Thoughts of ill will are countered by thoughts of goodwill, friendliness, kindness.
- Thoughts of cruelty or harmfulness are countered by thoughts of harmlessness or compassion.
We’ll practice with kindness and compassion on the next couple of Mondays. So let’s look at this word “renunciation.”
Even the Buddha is reported to have said, “before my self-awakening, … my heart didn’t leap up at renunciation, didn’t grow confident, steadfast, or released, seeing it as peace.” (Tapussa Sutta AN 9:41). So if your nose crinkled a little at reading the word, you’re in good company! I think many of us associate the word renunciation with a kind of depravation, asceticism, or that kind of thing.
Instead, we can see this as a practice of contentment, simplicity, and non-addiction.
Bhikkhu Bodhi says: “Real renunciation is not a matter of compelling ourselves to give up things still inwardly cherished, but of changing our perspective on them so that they no longer bind us. When we understand the nature of desire, when we investigate it closely with keen attention, desire falls away by itself, without need for struggle.”
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/waytoend.html#ch3
And it’s not easy! Ajahn Chah has said that being on this path is knowing about letting go but being unable to do so about 90% of the time. So bring kindness and patience to the times that the mind is gripped and renunciation isn’t available.
With good wishes,
Andrea