Discussion:Explore and Study Intention

ha love the dog.
and ok, i'm obnoxious enough without intending to be; so, i dint tear into step 8; but intentions can also be subconscious (step 9), so steps 8 and 9 might be better rectified? i didn't do it because i'd be directly contradicting, where i may not be fully understanding. good start to a tough subject.

No worries AproposofNothing, : ) The dog is a good pic, as it shows that the mind (including human minds) are capable of processing more than one intention/process at the same time, without going haywire. This is subtly incredibly important to get some insight into the whole subject.

Step 8 is to show that while those biological processes are very powerful, its for a reason, otherwise you might find you have other trivial priorities or preferences to do something else rather than address a problem that could kill you at worst, or compromise your ability to survive. Such as finding food - its work, and doing nothing is often far more preferable or enjoyable, but give you hunger pain and you will start looking for a solution. Pain and despair have also created some of most beautiful events, art and literature the world has ever known, without it, would we have these things? But at the same time, some of the most destructive - they are equally proportionate that the good something can do is the harm it can do when used to do harm. A deeply peaceful mind seldoms sees the need to express itself.

But at the same stroke, it is possible to mentally slow down breathing and the heartrate and the incredibly advanced people who develop their minds can switch off pain receptors, but it naturally comes with a catch - you have to know the risks as switching off pain does not remove the dangers. Sometimes when the mind is so calm and relaxed, the lungs can stop for a good few minutes as you still breathe through your skin. Some intentions can be influenced or modified (which gives point 9).

You have to watch the mind. Its that simple, (although simple certainly does not = easy). Once you can see what goes on inside, you can start to distinguish each process, such as feeling and/or sensing something first, then the intention that follows. Once you can distinguish it you can explore that individual part down to to how it works. Once you've done that, you can see what you can do with it. But the choice what you do with it is still your "baby" - you bought it into the world so you are responsible for what happens. Thus compassion - if you apply it, it is exceptionally unlikely you will go off and do something harmful to yourself or others. Compassion helps understanding and understanding helps compassion. Protecting yourself in this way, protects others from your mind - noone knows how wild the mind can be until it is too late. War is also intention.

Its so complex as we know so little about it, but when you start watching it, you start learning. For some it takes years, for some they grasp it in seconds. You never know until you find out : )

I don't know if the dog has a glass eye or something, but I can tell its intention is to focus on the baby, based on the way the ears are slightly turned toward the baby, and how the head is slightly turned, too.

Hi Ricardo,

Perhaps the dog does have a glass eye ; ), but if you block half the dogs face you can see where it is looking. Give it a try - put your finger on the screen over the left half of the dogs face (showing its right) and see where its looking, then do the same on the right. It really is focussing on two things.

ha, well the dog image is...priceless! and I think I get your intent in step 8 (no pun...nevermind), I just meant to point out how it reads to a 'virgin', which was, "intent is conscious...9) intent can be subconscious". But I am anal-yzing : )

Better read it again - it doesn't say subconscious in the article, it goes on how they're the same thing.

Intention is part of life and a large part of who we become and where we go. As I see it intention is part of the process I have shown below.

OBJECT/ SITUATION/ PERSON/ PLACE becomes FEELING/SENSE (MIND) becomes INTENTION(PROCESS) becomes ACTION (RESULT)

The action can and usually affects the object/situation/person/place. My intention by the above is to see if anybody agrees and gauge if I have understood intention and how it works.