Intention

   As related before, Will and perception are not separate, but only appear so to the mind; therefore, intent, or intention is contingent upon the symbols and their associated values and the relationships available within your perception. Without symbols their is nothing to perceive.  Without the associations of symbols and their relationships attributing value, there could be no discrimination. Without discrimination there could be no attachment(s).  There would be no perspective.  There would be no others to experience, or goals to be obtained.  Without differing associations and symbols there could be no choices to be made or contemplated, or other relationships to be explored.  Perspective would indeed be nothing, nonexistent. Placing limitations on symbols, associations and relationships limits available perspectives by disallowing certain probabilities. Acting with intentions place limitations upon perspective as well. This allows the attainment of certain goals by limiting relationships. By imposing the goal of two, one causes suffering and discomfort, and three or more is often not realized or able to exist.

Goals or attainments are merely deeper attachments which contribute to the illusion.  Preferences are established or reconsidered, long range plans are created, and all require the manipulation of symbols, creation of relationships and acknowledgement of certain perceptions and associations in order to have any intention and accomplishment, or failure, to obtain a goal.

Therefore, our intentions are dependent upon our perceptions and what we perceive is also dependent upon our intentions.  Attachments are typically what we perceive which are also our goals or part of our intentions.  Thus, our intent is a variation of experiencing our attachments through manipulation of associations, relationships and symbols and perceptions which alter our perspective.  Probabilities are decided upon and chosen or discarded creating the Now.  Our internal logic determines the method and qualities of attachment(s) based upon previous discriminations of associations, relationships and desires.  Typically, intentions enmire us more completely in “Reality” due to their very nature.

A young man traveled to a foreign land to attend the school of a famous

teacher of Tao. When he arrived at the school he was interviewed by the teacher.

"What do you wish from me?" the teacher asked.

"I wish to be your student and become the finest Taoist in all the land," the man

replied."How long must I study?"

"A minimum of twenty years," was the teacher's reply.

"Twenty years is a long time," said the young man. "What if I studied twice as

hard as your other students?"

"Forty years," was the the teacher's reply.

"Why is it that when I say I will work harder, you tell me that it will take longer ?" the young man asked.

"The answer is clear. When one is fixed upon the achievement, one tightens the mind and is thus more distant from finding the Way," responded the teacher.       An Introduction from Hua Ching Ni

--The Empty Vessel / A Journal of Contemporary Taoism  Summer 1996

The work of the Kaos practitioner is to utilize intention as a tool rather than a hindrance in the manipulation of probabilities to obtain a more desired perspective.  Relaxing the mind, increasing awareness and perceptions, understanding symbols their associations and relationships are key to the activity which lead to those desired perspectives.