As winter stretches its cold, long hand over Montreal, I find myself wrestling with the season’s starkness. Yet, paradoxically, this time of year also holds a special kind of promise—a chance to begin again, not by chasing fleeting resolutions, but by planting deeper seeds of intention. It’s not about the clichéd “New Year, new me” mantra. Instead, it’s about making our whole life a living prayer, an ongoing commitment to embody kindness, compassion, and freedom. This approach resonates deeply with the Buddhist teachings I encountered recently at a retreat, where the wise Thanissara spoke of intention as a spiritual anchor.
The Buddhist perspective on intention offers a profound framework that can gently guide us through the turning of the year. Rather than mere goal-setting, intention in Buddhism is layered and dynamic, involving three interconnected practices: samma sankappa (Wise Intention), adhiṭṭhāna (Determination), and cetāna (Volition). These can be imagined as a funnel—each one shaping and feeding into the next—helping us cultivate intentions that are not only meaningful but also deeply rooted in the values of freedom and compassion.
The Foundation: Wise Intention (Samma Sankappa)
At the widest point of the funnel lies samma sankappa, or Wise Intention. What distinguishes this intention is its foundation in wholesome qualities and its ultimate purpose: freedom from suffering. Unlike typical New Year’s resolutions focused on self-improvement or achievement, Wise Intention arises from a desire to embody renunciation (nekhamma), loving-kindness (mettā), and compassion (karuṇā).
These are not mere abstract ideals but living qualities that can soften and expand our hearts. Wise Intention calls us to consider what it truly means to live in freedom—not just personal freedom, but freedom for all beings from pain and hardship. It’s a gentle, yet powerful compass for shaping the kind of life we want to lead.
The Middle Ground: Determination (Adhiṭṭhāna)
Flowing from Wise Intention is adhiṭṭhāna, often translated as determination or resolve. This is where intention takes on a more active quality—a commitment to embody or cultivate specific qualities through our actions and choices. In everyday language, this is what we often call “setting intentions,” but in Buddhist thought, this resolution is inseparable from the wholesome qualities of Wise Intention.
For instance, when we say, “I intend to be more patient,” or “I resolve to practice kindness daily,” these commitments are nourished by the spirit of renunciation, loving-kindness, and compassion. They are not about forcing change or achieving perfection but about steadily aligning ourselves with values that lead to genuine freedom from suffering—for ourselves and others.
Many people feel overwhelmed by the pressure to craft “perfect” intentions. Two simple shifts have helped me approach this differently:
- Remember impermanence. Intentions, like everything else, are not fixed. They evolve and shift as we grow, allowing room for flexibility and self-compassion.
- Use “What if…?” Adding this phrase at the start of an intention—for example, “What if I am a refuge for others?” or “What if I lead with loving-kindness?”—invites a playful, spacious openness rather than rigidity. It becomes less about “having to” and more about “exploring the possibility.”
A simple intention reflecting both Wise Intention and Determination could be: “May I be loving and kind” or the softer, exploratory “What if I was loving and kind?” These words carry the seed of transformation.
The Present Moment: Volition (Cetāna)
The most immediate expression of intention is cetāna, often translated as volition or will. This is how our Wise Intention and Determination manifest in the moment-to-moment choices we make. It is the energy or impulse behind our actions, whether conscious or habitual.
Imagine yourself at a grocery store checkout line, and another person joins just ahead of you in a long queue. How do you respond? You might feel the urge to assert yourself, driven by exhaustion or impatience, cutting ahead. Or you might pause, inviting the other person to go first, guided by a volitional impulse aligned with kindness.
Your cetāna—the energy behind your choice—reflects whether your broader intentions are alive in that moment. Setting the intention “What if I was loving and kind?” subtly changes your internal energy, making space for compassion to arise.
While we can’t always catch every reaction in real time, cultivating awareness of cetāna allows us to notice patterns—our habitual ways of responding. Over time, this awareness opens a door to transformation, helping us gently shift from automatic reactions toward mindful, compassionate living.
Making Life a Living Prayer
Taken together, these three practices invite us to transform not only the turning of the year but the turning of every day. They remind us that intention is not a one-time event but a continual unfolding—a dance between the wisdom that grounds us, the resolve that fuels us, and the volition that guides our steps.
We are invited to start simply: intending to be kind, open-hearted, and gentle. In a world that often pulls us toward extremes and harshness, this intention may sometimes falter. We will stumble and fail—that’s part of the human experience. But without this starting point, without the simple yet profound wish for kindness, we risk never cultivating it at all.
This perspective offers a gentle but powerful truth: Even in difficult moments, renewal and transformation are possible. It’s not about perfection or quick fixes but about the patient, steady unfolding of intention into action—making our whole life a living prayer of freedom, compassion, and loving-kindness.
And that is why we practice.
