Hello.
I still don't completely know what intention is. In one buddhist post on the topic of harsh speech I read that (this was a post by a buddhist nun), if you accuse someone of something innapropriately --- and then upsets them then you have committid harsh speech. But surely in the scenario, your goal or rather intention wasnt to hurt or upset that person? So in my humble opinion that wouldnt be harsh speech unless my understanding of intention is so very wrong?
Please excuse me and help !!!
Thanxs
Karma & intention
Re: Karma & intention
Intention is detailed in the Abhidharma as a mind that has an objective. Of course my knowledge of Abhidharma is weak so this is just a provisional definition.Cloudy wrote:Hello.
I still don't completely know what intention is.
Then we have the question for what is inappropriate, etc. However this appears to be a working Buddhist definition of harsh speech. I would add that you would seem to me to need to have had a goal of upsetting people but that may not be supported in the teachings.In one buddhist post on the topic of harsh speech I read that (this was a post by a buddhist nun), if you accuse someone of something innapropriately --- and then upsets them then you have committid harsh speech.
I would add that Shakyamuni Buddha was detailed in several suttas about avoiding harsh speech by carefully examining one's speech and taught that it is better to not speak at all if there is a chance that the speech is not beneficial. This is the position of the Sravaka teachings. This position appears to not be significantly changed in the Mahayana teachings except when life is at stake.
Kirt
Kirt's Tibetan Translation Notes
"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
"Most all-knowing Mañjuśrī, ...
Please illuminate the radiant wisdom spirit
Of my precious Buddha nature."
HH Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
"Most all-knowing Mañjuśrī, ...
Please illuminate the radiant wisdom spirit
Of my precious Buddha nature."
HH Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
Re: Karma & intention
Following up on my previous post with an example from the Mahayana, in this case from the "37 Practices of a Bodhisattva", verse 34:
Kirt34) Because harsh words disturb others’ minds and cause the bodhisattva’s
conduct to deteriorate, abandoning harsh speech that is unpleasant to others is
the bodhisattvas’ practice.
Kirt's Tibetan Translation Notes
"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
"Most all-knowing Mañjuśrī, ...
Please illuminate the radiant wisdom spirit
Of my precious Buddha nature."
HH Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
"Most all-knowing Mañjuśrī, ...
Please illuminate the radiant wisdom spirit
Of my precious Buddha nature."
HH Thinley Norbu Rinpoche