The Principle of Intention

The Principle of Intention
"It is the intention that counts"

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When we have a good teacher or master and begin our training in the arts of fight, meditation or yoga, we are usually taught to practice some exercises on daily basis. If you are a pupil or regular disciple (what is rather rare), you then begin to execute what you have been told to do and work a few times each day in your discipline.

Yet, it is not because we train every day that we train correctly. I explain to myself, we could say that two ways exist (or more) to training: the deep manner and the superficial manner. The first brings us more toward the being's total practice while the second would rather bring us to a vulgar work of the body and mind without real investment of oneself (but that is still more than only practicing once, from time to time).

To train in "a deep manner" is to take the being's totality in consideration and therefore to work on several planes: physical, mental and spiritual one could say. In this view, one practices some exercises with conscience, what allows him to better observe the small adjustments or even the changes that operate within the body. In the exercise of "the tree" for example, one will be able to listen to the tensions that block the breathing, the rises of heat that turn the whole body into a bubble, the pains that paralyze the arms, the muscles that are weak, the irritation that goes up to the head, the different emotions remaining stuck, etc… other exercises will bring us to other sensations and observations and we will be able to work with a clear vision of our limits and desires.

But to train with "depth" we must also look after what we do just for ourselves and know why we decide to do it. To train this is not to stupidly repeat exercises, imitating the professor or master or to be able to attain a level that will allow us to build our reputation. To train deeply we need the intention to make it "here and now" and not the intention "to win" something. The intention is what makes the whole difference since it is going to bring us to a true presence rather than to any projection.

The practice of the fight arts with intention is nothing else than to quiet ourselves sufficiently so that we no longer lose ourselves in the "surface". We return towards the interior instead. It smells like the progress of the answers of the body facing the practices, it is to be there in what happens, to dare to feel what one knows to usually well avoid. And for us to be able to do that only one thing is important: the intention. According to the direction that the intention will take, she will propel us either toward a deep discovery of our interior being or toward a pleasant, rather banal repetition work that won't drag any real change into our life.

To train in a superficial manner is to imitate some exercises without the intention of the moment but with the idea to "get something", to reach an ultimate stage. Then one gets to it every day, grants a moment of practice and waits for the results with impatience. Most of the time one makes that in front of the TV, while listening to music or chatting with those that surround us and can be even while cooking! One diverts himself from the exercise through taking care of other things. Of course, this method can be used but only when the practice has been integrated in the daily, not before. Unfortunately, it is also this shape of practice that rarely stretches toward being integrated in our everyday life. Indeed, since to practice is a means of getting somewhere, it becomes a means isolated to arrive there and can slip ever naturally in our daily.

Training of this sort presumes "a good muscular level" or "an advanced meditative capacity" which is then compared to people who don't practice anything... Then one seems to be in a pretty good shape and one has good fun. But at the end, no real transformation takes place indeed.

We are always unsettled when we must face an emergency, we are frightened by the idea of having to make a decision and we are always sad when we hear bad news. Generally, the basic problems still exist and in the difficult moments we dive into them just as well as before, but at least we have more of a good form! With this type of practice one can solve a certain number of dysfunctions, without touching a true détente or interior tranquility. It is a little more than sport and a lot less that a serious spiritual practice.

To practice superficially is to just "participate" in the world; whereas to practice in depth is to "invest" in the world. It is not to just "be there" but it is to be completely present.

Finally, it is the intention that makes all. We can decide to train for and with ourselves and we can decide to train to get recognition and momentary appeasement that will grant us good conscience. The two formulas are so much valid that they are chosen with lucidity and one doesn't even hide his face. But it is not necessary to be mistaken about what we do; training superficially will never bring the transformation of self. The illusion of change without sincere and honest practice is large and good numbers lose themselves in it. But doesn't one want to change indeed when one begins…