Saturday September 20: Subject: Eightfold path part 1: Right View, Right Intention

This Saturday in Hardcore Dharma we discussed the “wisdom trainings” of the Noble Eightfold Path, the aforementioned Right View and Right Path.

As mother might sing, “Alfie, what’s it all about?” Well Ma, I’m actually not really quite sure.  I’m trying to unpack this dharmic valise and every time it seems like I’ve got all my ducks in order some question throws my orderly thoughts into a fifteen year-old’s bedroom state of disarray.

Firstly, let’s think about RIGHT: Apparently, some people have problems with the words “right” and “wrong.”  I don’t!  But then again I also like following orders and exercise classes that label themselves “boot camps” with “no whining” policies.  So for those free-thinkers of this digital age we might say, instead of right, we might say “wholesome” or “skillful.”  ((cough) hippies (cough)).

Kay, so, RIGHT (wholesome) VIEW:  Listen people. I tried and I tried to unpack Right View – I wrote, I deleted, I quoted, I listed and then I decided that I. Knows. Not. Enough.  So I did what I usually do in these matters, and sent out an appeal to the ever knowledgeable Greg Zwahlen.  An excerpt-

On Tue, Sep 23, 2008 at 11:30 AM, Julia May Jonas wrote:

Question:  Would you describe Right View as freedom from the filter of conceptual viewpoint on experience?  Could I?

 

On Tue, 9/23/08, at11:44 AM Greg Zwahlen wrote:

That is an interesting question. Most often when “right view” is described, what is meant is a conceptual understanding of the dharma. However, it can also refer to the non-conceptual understanding of someone who has experienced emptiness directly (an Arya, in other words, and they are pretty fancy). So for them, you could describe right view as freedom from the filter of conceptual viewpoint on experience, and that is what we aspire to, but along the way our right view is most often conceptual by necessity. Understanding philosophical points and so forth.

Thanks Greg Zwahlen – got it.  Actually, wait – I’m not sure if I do.  What does that have to do with what Thich Nhat Hanh says about Right View as watering wholesome as opposed to unwholesome seeds?  Does Right View (or the aspiration to attain right view) pertain to how you conduct yourself?  Or does it, in the relative, concept-oriented world, as opposed to the ultimate, concept-less world, pertain to interpreting the teachings, um, right?  Is Right View saying no to New Criticism?  Is it saying, like I think -sorry if I misquote you- Leon suggested in class, that Right View is an agreement with the teachings of the Buddha and then a subsequent attempt to strip away all the illusions that contradict said teachings?  Or is it only referring to a mental state and not the subsequent actions?  I’m in a Buddhist mind eddy over the whole deal and would love some thoughts or opinions.

Meanwhile let’s move on to RIGHT INTENTION:  Now I must say, I thought this one was going to be a bit easier.  After all, Right Intention seems intuitive.  We’ve all experienced the physical difference between a pure and impure intention.  It seems like Right Intention would just be that – having intent that precedes action to be based on the nice stuff as opposed the selfish stuff.  And maybe it is.  However trusty Ethan, instead of giving us readings with helpful chapter headings like, “How to interpret the 2nd step on the 8-fold path that is always called Right Intention by everyone smart in Buddhism” gave us a reading from Thich Nhat Hanh called “Right Thinking” (which is how Thich Nhat Hanh interprets the second wisdom training) and a reading, by Joseph Goldstein (from the Theravaden school) in Seeking the Heart of Wisdom about understanding karma and the role of intention in cause and effect.  So how does that all pull together?  How could Right Intention and Right Thinking be synonymous?  How does intention immediately relate to cause and effect? 

The contemplation for the week is “What’s the link between Intention and Action?” In the 5-7 class Patrick mentioned this study that something like, 90 percent of the decisions we make are sub-conscious.  Can we link that to Right Intention in some way?  Is it a contradiction? Is the second step on the eightfold path about refining your intention so that even your unconscious actions are right?  Is it a chicken and an egg scenario?  Could folks opine for me please?