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Intention Talks

An intention is a mental state in which a person commits themselves to a course of action. Having the plan to visit the zoo tomorrow is an example of an intention. The action plan is the content of the intention while the commitment is the attitude towards this content. Other mental states can have action plans as their content, as when one admires a plan, but differ from intentions since they do not involve a practical commitment to realizing this plan. Successful intentions bring about the intended course of action while unsuccessful intentions fail to do so. Intentions, like many other mental states, have intentionality: they represent possible states of affairs.

Theories of intention try to capture the characteristic features of intentions. The belief-desire theory is the traditionally dominant approach. According to a simple version of it, having an intention is nothing but having a desire to perform a certain action and a belief that one will perform this action. Belief-desire theories are frequently criticized based on the fact that neither beliefs nor desires involve a practical commitment to performing an action, which is often illustrated in various counterexamples. The evaluation theory tries to overcome this problem by explaining intentions in terms of unconditional evaluations. That is to say that intentions do not just present the intended course of action as good in some respect, as is the case for desires, but as good all things considered. This approach has problems in explaining cases of akrasia, i.e. that agents do not always intend what they see as the best course of action. A closely related theory identifies intentions not with unconditional evaluations but with predominant desires. It states that intending to do something consists in desiring it the most. Opponents of this approach have articulated various counterexamples with the goal of showing that intentions do not always coincide with the agent's strongest desire. A different approach to the theories mentioned so far is due to Elizabeth Anscombe and denies the distinction between intentions and actions. On her view, to intend a goal is already a form of acting towards this goal and therefore not a distinct mental state. This account struggles to explain cases in which intentions and actions seem to come apart, as when the agent is not currently doing anything towards realizing their plan or in the case of failed actions. The self-referentiality theory suggests that intentions are self-referential, i.e. that they do not just represent the intended course of action but also represent themselves as the cause of the action. But the claim that this happens on the level of the content of the intention has been contested.

The term "intention" refers to a group of related phenomena. For this reason, theorists often distinguish various types of intentions in order to avoid misunderstandings. The most-discussed distinction is that between prospective and immediate intentions. Prospective intentions, also known as "prior intentions", involve plans for the future. They can be subdivided according to how far they plan ahead: proximal intentions involve plans for what one wants to do straightaway whereas distal intentions are concerned with a more remote future. Immediate intentions, on the other hand, are intentions that guide the agent while they are performing the action in question. They are also called "intentions-in-action" or "act-related" intentions. The term "intention" usually refers to anticipated means or ends that motivate the agent. But in some cases, it can refer to anticipated side-effects that are neither means nor ends to the agent. In this case, the term "oblique intention" is sometimes used. Intentions are rationally evaluable: they are either rational or irrational. Conscious intentions are the paradigmatic form of intention: in them, the agent is aware of their goals. But it has been suggested that actions can also be guided by unconscious intentions of which the agent is not aware.

The formation of intentions is sometimes preceded by the deliberation of promising alternative courses of action and may happen in decisions, in which the agent chooses between these alternatives. Intentions are responsible for initiating, sustaining, and terminating actions and are frequently used to explain why people engage in a certain behavior. Understanding the behavior of others in terms of intentions already happens in early childhood. Important in this context is the role of gestures, pointing, attention, and eye movement to understand the intentions of others and to form shared intentions. In the philosophy of action, a central question is whether it is true for all intentional actions that they are caused or accompanied by intentions. The theory of reasoned action aims to predict behavior based on how pre-existing attitudes and subjective norms determine behavioral intentions. In ethics, the intention principle states that whether an action is morally permissible sometimes depends on the agent's intention for performing this action.

From intention on Wikipedia

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Title Speaker

Zen Alchemy: Realization Through Stillness

Serial: RB-03084

Online-Talks_Paramitas

Practice, Intention, Patience
Jul 17 2022
Johanneshof

Joan Halifax’s Practical Compassion & GRACE

Serial: TL-00713

ADZG Monday Night,
Dharma Talk

Obstacles, Intention, Patience, Passions, Balance
Oct 11 2021
Zoom

August 31st, 2021, Serial No. 00708

Right Speech, Zoom, Intention, Two Truths, Right Effort
Aug 31 2021

Four Aspects of Right Speech and Skillful Means

Serial: TL-00707

ADZG Monday Night,
Dharma Talk

Right Speech, Zoom, Two Truths, Intention, Right Effort
Aug 30 2021
Zoom

Mother's Day Anti-war Origins and Bodhisattva Values

Serial: TL-00696

ADZG Sunday Morning,
Dharma Talk

Peace, Bodhisattva Precepts, Conversation, Intention
May 09 2021
Zoom

Awake Words: Zens Linguistic Presence

Serial: RB-03728

Dharma_Now_3

Intention, Practice, Time
Nov 15 2020
Crestone

The Fox Koan and Responding Helpfully to Cause and Effect

Serial: TL-00670

ADZG Monday Night,
Dharma Talk

Fox, Funeral, Six Realms, Intention, Book of Serenity
Jul 13 2020
Zoom

Being Time Intentionally in the Fullness of the Ten Times

Serial: TL-00664

ADZG Sunday Morning,
Dharma Talk

Letting Go, Intention, Conversation, Ego, Zoom
May 03 2020
Zoom

Joanna Macy and the Wild Love for the World; Being Time and Deep Time

Serial: TL-00663

ADZG Sunday Morning,
Dharma Talk

Zoom, Intention, Gratitude, Bodhisattva Precepts
Apr 26 2020
Zoom

Bodhidharma's Intention for 2020

Serial: TL-00640

ADZG Monday Night,
Dharma Talk

Intention, New Year, Bodhidharma, Right Speech, Right Effort
Dec 30 2019
ADZG Temple

Enlightenment Day and Ongoing Care for the Dharma of Suchness

Serial: TL-00633

ADZG Rohatsu Sesshin,
Sesshin Talk

Book of Serenity, Dharma Transmission, Intention, Transmission
Dec 08 2019
ADZG Temple

Zen Flow: Embracing Change Mindfully

Serial: RB-02813

Practice-Period_Talks

Practice, Buddhism, Intention
Nov 15 2019
Johanneshof

Zen Mindfulness: Embracing Constant Change

Serial: RB-02188

Door-Step-Zen

Practice, Intention, Buddhism
Nov 2019
Johanneshof

Zen Realities: Beyond Dualistic Thinking

Serial: RB-03177

Door-Step-Zen_City-Groups

Culture, Practice, Intention
Aug 2019
Johanneshof

What Do We Call the World, and the Vast, Living Underworld

Serial: TL-00571

ADZG Monday Night,
Sesshin Talk

Duality, Darkness and Light, Intention, Bodhisattva Precepts
Dec 10 2018
ADZG Temple

Trusting the Path to Perception

Serial: RB-02888

Seminar_Koan

Koan, Intention, Practice
Aug 2018
Johanneshof

New Years and the Practice of Resolution or Vowing

Serial: TL-00502

ADZG Sunday Morning,
Dharma Talk

New Year, Commitment, Intention, Renewal, Paramitas
Dec 31 2017
ADZG Temple

Breath Bridges Body and Consciousness

Serial: RB-03662

Seminar_Breath_Body_Phenomena

Consciousness, Intention, Practice
Sep 2017
Hannover

Hongzhi's Rhythms of Nature and Sangha Harmony

Serial: TL-00465

ADZG Monday Night,
Dharma Talk

Balance, Hongzhi, Intention, Letting Go
May 22 2017
ADZG Temple

Letting Go of Control

Serial: TL-00452

ADZG Monday Night,
Dharma Talk

realization, Letting Go, Patience, Discrimination, Intention
Feb 20 2017
ADZG Temple

Sesshin day 2: The Ox eating the ruler's grasses, going against the grain

Serial: TL-00440

Sesshin Day 2 (Rohatsu),
Dharma Talk

Aspects of Practice, Fox, Bodhisattva Way, Intention, Renunciation
Dec 01 2016
ADZG Temple

Zen: Unspoken Insights, Lived Spaces

Serial: RB-03967

Seminar_The_Intimacy_with_the_Other

Practice, Time, Intention
Sep 2016
Hannover

Zen Mind Beyond Ego Constraints

Serial: RB-03052

Seminar_Weaving_Our_Own_History

Consciousness, Practice, Intention
May 2016
Rastenberg

Zen's Dance of Coherent Perception

Serial: RB-03055

Seminar_Weaving_Our_Own_History

Practice, Intention, Time
May 2016
Rastenberg

Practice Period

Serial: TL-00411

ADZG Sunday Morning,
Dharma Talk

Lotus Sutra, Practice Period, Dharmakaya, Intention, Commitment
Apr 10 2016
ADZG Temple

Mindful Crafting in Zazen Practice

Serial: RB-02791

Seminar_The Practice_and_Experience_of_Change

Posture, Intention, Stillness
Feb 2016
Johanneshof

Evolving Zen: Practice Transforms Mindfulness

Serial: RB-03846

Seminar_Basic_Attitudes_Teachings_and_Practices_in_Zen

Practice, Time, Intention
Jul 2015
Hannover

Zen in Everyday Moments

Serial: RB-02175

Sesshin

Practice, Intention, Zazen
Jun 2015
Johanneshof

Awakening Intention Through Zen Attention

Serial: RB-03890

Seminar_Attentional_Awareness

Intention, Practice, Buddha
Mar 2015
Johanneshof

January 4th, 2015, Serial No. 00358

New Year, Intention, Commitment, Bodhisattva Vow, Balance
Jan 04 2015

Breath Beyond Self: Intentional Awareness

Serial: RB-03697

Seminar_The_Continuum_of_the_Self

Intention, Breath, Culture
Sep 2014
Hannover

Intention's Dance in Zen Practice

Serial: RB-03698

Seminar_The_Continuum_of_the_Self

Intention, Breath, Consciousness
Sep 2014
Hannover

Zen Mind: Awareness in Multiplicity

Serial: RB-02283

Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy

Intention, Consciousness, Practice
Sep 2014
Kassel

Perception and Control in Zen Practice

Serial: RB-02582

Seminar_Buddha-Fields

Practice, Bell, Intention
Jun 2014
Rastenberg

Embodied Time in Zen Practice

Serial: RB-02913

Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy

Time, Practice, Intention
Jun 2014
Rastenberg

December 10th, 2013, Serial No. 04086

Emotions, Bell, Intention
Dec 10 2013

Zhaozhou and the Cypress Tree

Serial: TL-00317

Thursday Rohatsu Sesshin,
Dharma Talk

Bodhidharma, Book of Serenity, Blue Cliff Record, Intention, Practice Period...
Dec 05 2013
ADZG Temple

Work Practice

Serial: TL-00309

ADZG Sunday Morning,
Dharma Talk

Lay Practice, Gathas, Family Practice, Intention, Monastic Practice
Sep 01 2013
ADZG Temple

Embodying Presence Beyond Perception

Serial: RB-03128

Conference

Posture, Intention, Breath
Oct 2012

The Most Important Thing

Serial: TL-00274

ADZG Sunday Morning,
Dharma Talk

Intention, Bodhisattva Vow, Passions, Enemies, Gratitude
Sep 30 2012
ADZG Temple

Beyond Intention: Embracing Mental Posture

Serial: RB-01684D

Seminar_The Self,_Continuity_and_Discontinuity

Practice, Time, Intention
Sep 2012
Hannover

December 9th, 2011, Serial No. 03914

Effort, Intention
Dec 09 2011

December 8th, 2011, Serial No. 03912

Intention, Hindrances, Nirvana
Dec 08 2011

September 10th, 2011, Serial No. 03879

Intention, Effort, Letting Go
Sep 10 2011

Open-Ended Awareness Through Zen

Serial: RB-03855

Seminar_Zen_in_the_Western_World

Intention, Practice, Wisdom
Sep 2011
Hannover

Beyond the Self: Zen Perspectives

Serial: RB-03167

Seminar_Zen-Self,_West-Self

Intention, Time, Practice
Sep 2011
Johanneshof

Identity Unfolding: A Zen Perspective

Serial: RB-03171

Seminar_Zen-Self,_West-Self

Intention, Practice, Time
Sep 2011
Johanneshof

Mindful Awareness Unveiled Through Zen

Serial: RB-03170

Seminar_Zen-Self,_West-Self

Consciousness, Intention, Practice
Sep 2011
Johanneshof

August 23rd, 2011, Serial No. 03872

Enlightenment, Meditation, Intention
Aug 23 2011

April 7th, 2011, Serial No. 03838

Meditation, Koan, Intention
Apr 07 2011

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