Right Intention is the purposive aspect of mental activity - the application of thoughts to achieve ones goals. Right Understanding and Right Intention - the cognitive and the purposive side of the mind respectively - intertwine and interact in close correlation. Intentions are the link between our cognitive thoughts and our active engagement in the world. When the intentions are right, the actions will be right, and for the intentions to be right the right understanding must be present. Where wrong understanding prevails, the outcome is wrong intention which gives rise to unwholesome actions.
Right understanding and right intention together counteract the three unwholesome roots: delusion, greed and hatred. Delusion, as a cognitive defilement, is opposed by right understanding. Greed and hatred, being emotive defilements, are opposed through the redirecting of intention. Right intention is threefold, namely intention of renunciation, intention of good will, and intention of harmlessness. While renunciation is the antidote to greed, good will and harmlessness are antidotes to hatred.
Understanding the Four Noble Truths in relation to one's own life gives ...
