The difference between intention and skillfullness

StarInTheDark

Intention - purpose
Skillfulness - Possessing or exercising skill; expert

So, intention is what the person meant when doing an act. Skillfulness is doing the right thing. People can have good intentions, yet do an unskillful thing.

If you have good intentions, but do the wrong thing, is that bad? I've heard people say that all that counts is intention, but I disagree completely. I think it's more important to do what's right and beneficial to all than to just believe in yourself, if that makes sense? :P

What do you guys think? What did Buddha say on the difference between intention and skillfulness? I've just been wondering about this the past few days.

Stephen

Karma is volitional (intentional) thoughts/actions, and we're aiming toward skillful or wholesome karma as opposed to the other kind.

So that would mean yes, our intentions must be carried out in skillful ways.

federica

I think the question is phrased incorrectly....
You can do something well, with intention, but it takes skill to do it superbly....

The word 'difference' is misleading.

GuyC

Hi StarInTheDark,

If we do something with a truly good or wholesome intention then we will only ever have good results. The problem is that sometimes we are deluded into thinking that we are acting with good intentions, when actually we are confused about what is good. When this happens we are suprised when our seemingly "good" intentions produce not so good results.

I think for this reason it can be useful to use the Buddha's advice to Rahula. Not only does the Buddha advise Rahula to only commit acts based on good intentions, but he goes on to say that we should reflect both during the act AND after having done the act as to whether or not the results are/were good in that particular instance. If the results weren't good, even though before we commenced the act (and possibly even during the act) we were convinced that the results would be good, then in the future we are more aware of similar situations so we are less likely to make the same mistake again. Thus strengthening wisdom and weakening delusion.

The Buddha says it better than I can though: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.061.than.html

With Metta,

Guy

DhammaDhatu

StarInTheDark wrote: »

If you have good intentions, but do the wrong thing, is that bad?

For me, no person is born skilful but many, if not most, are born with good intention.

From good intention we learn.

Learning by making some or many mistakes is generally the normal way.