The Buddha said:

“The thought manifests as the word;

The word manifests as the deed;

The deed develops into habit;

And habit hardens into character;

So watch the thought and its ways with care,

And let it spring from love

Born out of concern for all beings…

As the shadow follows the body,

As we think, so we become.”

Wise Intention can be described best as commitment to ethical and mental growth. The Buddha taught three types of Wise intentions: 1. the intention of renunciation, which means not acting on the pull of desire, 2. the intention of good will, meaning not acting on feelings of anger and aversion, and 3. the intention of harmlessness, meaning not to think or act cruelly, violently, or aggressively, and to develop compassion.

These intentions become the foundation of a life of wisdom and lovingkindness. We practice goodwill, harmlessness and renunciation in our lives to foster harmony and peace for ourselves and for those around us. We deliberately and intentionally offer acceptance and assistance to those in need, dropping any prejudice, anger and hostility to the best of our ability.

What a challenge this can be! But, since it’s a practice, we can watch our thoughts, words and actions carefully so that they can become more loving, kind and compassionate.

We don’t all think alike, but we are all connected… and we are all human… and we need each other. So we take up this challenging practice and do the best we can for the benefit of all.

Viktor Frankl wrote, “Everything can be taken from a man, but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

What attitude do we choose in the set of circumstances we are faced with today? Do we choose to leave people out or to include them? What “way” do we choose?

There’s so much talk today about who should be included… who should have access… who should be able to fully participate in life…

We are told that we should have an attitude of exclusion. We are told that there are those who deserve and those who do not deserve to be “a part of.”  Why not? Because they are different:

Not white.

Not male.

Not straight.

Not Right (as opposed to Left).

Not American.

Not Christian.

Not wealthy.

Not connected.

Not educated (at the right place or in the right way).

Not employed.

Not housed.

Not fed.

Buddha taught that we are all connected; connected in the most fundamental way. Connected at the core of being. Connected in “basic goodness.” Five or six hundred years later Jesus said the same thing. He said he was the son of God and we are all his brothers and sisters.

Buddha taught that we should wish loving-kindness—Metta—unconditional friendliness to all beings.

He said that “Those who are skilled in the good, should wish:

May all be happy and secure 

May all beings be happy at heart. 

All living beings, 

Whether weak or strong, 

Tall, large, medium, or short,

Tiny or big, 

Seen or the unseen, 

Near or far away, 

Born or to-be-born, 

May all beings be happy.

What attitude do we choose in the set of circumstances we are faced with today? Do we choose to leave people out or to include them? What “way” do we choose?