07-07-2013, 12:00 AM
Ravenmoon...it is a rare priviledge to discuss something as all-important as intent, with someone who is an actual practitioner. Only a practitioner could draw such fine distinctions as you have in this response, since only practice, (action) reveals them. I quote you below from various paragraphs, and answer each one in turn; RM;
So action is the key component of intent. To make intent one's own, one actively intends this. There is either active intent (one's own), or reactive intent (still ones own...but...conditioned to be 'a certain way' aka passed along from generation to generation).//////////////////////IW;Yes, every action we take implies a corresponding intention. The lack of action implies the lack of the intent to take action. For instance, a person may say they're going to immediately get up and go to another room, but if they're still sitting there after five minutes, then their intent was implicitly to remain sitting. It is also useful to say that intent is the “decision gate” or “decision point” that preceeds all action. What you said about, “To make intent one's own, one actively intends this” is quite interesting. In other words, even one's own intent can be the subject of intention. The warrior can in essence, “intend intent” to take whatever form they wish. But of course, the true test of whether this has actually been done, is how much action is taken afterwards to accomplish it. To think a thing, or even affirm it repeatedly, is not necessarily the same as intending/taking action. When you said “to make [intent] their own”, what I hear is, ”gaining a greater mastery of intent”. Self knowledge is essential here, which implies careful and subtle self observation. Toward this end a simple exercise can be revealing. I have people place an object in front of them on a table or the ground, such as a pen, and then say; “intend to pick up the pen”. About two-thirds of them will actually reach out and pick it up. So when asked, “What did you just learn about intention?” most will not know what to say, because they are deceived by the simplicity of the act. They don't realize there is something profound to be learned, until it is pointed out that, “Action implies intention...you needed to intend to pick that up in order to do it. The same is true of every single action we take, and close observation of how this is so is really very revealing, assuming that is, that one has the intent to learn, and to apply that knowledge to practical action!”//////////////
RM;
Active intent is what you are writing about here, wielding intent, seeing it is the core of all existence and actively directing it based on this understanding...the active side of infinity. The best of our intent.
Reactive intent is still active (intent) in its origin and results, but, ironically, its conditioning (FI), so not original by many means. Thus there is less awareness behind its execution, its a dull link with intent, barely questioned because it was learned long ago (in childhood). ///////////////////IW;You've drawn an interesting distinction. When you said “ seeing it is the core of all existence and actively directing it based on this understanding...the active side of infinity. The best of our intent.”what I hear is “self knowledge”...realization of self and reality at a core level. Once again, moment to moment observation of this fact is extremely useful. I see the merit of distinguishing between “active” and “reactive” intent, with reaction being habit or culture based, and the active form being self realized, independent initiative. //////////////
RM;
For example; someone may say "I wish to stop smoking...but its SO HARD to stop." So, this type of reactive intent is perceived as "its not me or my intent, its the difficulty of giving up nicotine." The externalization of 'control', aka, "its beyond my control". Active intent reveals EVERYTHING is within our control (our intent). The reason this may initially be doubted is because, the dull link with intent (conditioned intent) makes intent seem outside of us (not our doing) when it IS our doing, all the time./////////////////IW; An excellent point. This has a lot to do with the intent to take responsibility for ones' self”. It also has to do with inertia, or in other words, built up intent within the physical body. Self realization, especially through self examination and meditation, is the remedy for the doubt you mentioned inside people. Plus then there's the poor, degraded intent of this culture in which we live...which does exactly what you pointed out...it makes everything seem to be outside of the control of the individual. It is in essence the collective embodiment of the intent of disempowerment. Realizing this and rejecting the status quo, goes a long way to remedying such disempowerment inside the self.////////////
RM;
So, we sharpen active intent, but...not over night. Not just by reading these words can one then just go out and change everything in their lives (such as give up smoking over night...one can, but unless intent is strong, likely they won't just yet..the FI will stop them). No, intent must be exercised regularly to strengthen it. Don Juan called this "sharpening the link with Intent." So again, the slow and gradual process of making intent strong, may initially cause intent to be perceived as less within ones realm of harnessing it. Its important to keep this in mind, because this merely means we need to employ persistence to "make it happen". //////////////IW;Yes, well said. The strengthening of one's link with intent, both within and without is certainly a gradual process, notunlike the gaining of high fitness from a position of weakness. An every-day application of the intent to master intent is exactly what you're talking about. In this process intent becomes more and more focused, going from bending/unsteadiness to unbending and fiercely determined.////////////
RM;
I have observed that the families one is born into also impacts intent, as do other factors. Some exhibit a stronger intent (sorcery or magic) quite naturally without understanding exactly how they do so. Some are psychics without knowing how exactly, but it runs in their families. To me this simply means the intent is passed along in such a way that it is conditioned, but unlike most conditioning, its more effective (and useful) intent. Regardless however, anyone can make these same links with power, by intending it. IW;There definitely is such a thing as family karma, or in other words, long term intention. Science is even saying now that there is such a thing as “epigenetic” traits passed on through genes...what one might call “molecules attached to the side of the DNA strand that isn't actually DNA but it close. I've often thought that the way a person lives their lives, (the intent they use every day) does in fact change their genetics over their lifetime, and that these changes are passed on through the generations. I think this partically explains the truth of what you're saying about certain family lines that exhibit more power.
RM;
In my experiences, not-doings initially serve to free up energy going previously to conditioned/reactive intent, so that it can be redeployed to be active/directed intent. A not-doing stuns the areas of our "doings" that zapped our energy and then we see where change is possible, because we have the available energy freed up. In truth, its the intent of not-doing that reveals the doing that (appeared) to be holding one captive. So...the intent to shift perspective (not-doing), and that ability to see we are always free to do so, changes the conditioned beliefs to intended actions, which they were intended actions before anyway (all actions are intended), but "given" to us at such a young age we forgot we ourselves intended it via the socialization process.///////////IW;Well said, and I agree entirely. Not doing is comparable to initiating a defragmentation of a computer...it eliminates unnecessary clutter and frees up space. It's absolutely true that people forget just how thoroughly they were conditioned to behave all their lives, especially during childhood. Given this, they mistakenly imagine that life couldn't possibly be any other way. This is the inertia and cultural/collective intention, and as you pointed out, it can be corrected through a shift of persepctive. Self and cutlural realization is once again key there.
RM;
Always we had/have the power within our grasp, each and every person, so its a matter of coming to see this, and, more importantly, act upon what we see. And then consistently to strengthen the link.////////////IW;Yes, to SEE we have such power is in large part to understand that we do not just wield intent, we ARE intent. It is an innate part of our being, at the very core of self at all levels. To understand this progressively is enables progressive action upon it, and then we do indeed strengthen our link with the intent at large...
So action is the key component of intent. To make intent one's own, one actively intends this. There is either active intent (one's own), or reactive intent (still ones own...but...conditioned to be 'a certain way' aka passed along from generation to generation).//////////////////////IW;Yes, every action we take implies a corresponding intention. The lack of action implies the lack of the intent to take action. For instance, a person may say they're going to immediately get up and go to another room, but if they're still sitting there after five minutes, then their intent was implicitly to remain sitting. It is also useful to say that intent is the “decision gate” or “decision point” that preceeds all action. What you said about, “To make intent one's own, one actively intends this” is quite interesting. In other words, even one's own intent can be the subject of intention. The warrior can in essence, “intend intent” to take whatever form they wish. But of course, the true test of whether this has actually been done, is how much action is taken afterwards to accomplish it. To think a thing, or even affirm it repeatedly, is not necessarily the same as intending/taking action. When you said “to make [intent] their own”, what I hear is, ”gaining a greater mastery of intent”. Self knowledge is essential here, which implies careful and subtle self observation. Toward this end a simple exercise can be revealing. I have people place an object in front of them on a table or the ground, such as a pen, and then say; “intend to pick up the pen”. About two-thirds of them will actually reach out and pick it up. So when asked, “What did you just learn about intention?” most will not know what to say, because they are deceived by the simplicity of the act. They don't realize there is something profound to be learned, until it is pointed out that, “Action implies intention...you needed to intend to pick that up in order to do it. The same is true of every single action we take, and close observation of how this is so is really very revealing, assuming that is, that one has the intent to learn, and to apply that knowledge to practical action!”//////////////
RM;
Active intent is what you are writing about here, wielding intent, seeing it is the core of all existence and actively directing it based on this understanding...the active side of infinity. The best of our intent.
Reactive intent is still active (intent) in its origin and results, but, ironically, its conditioning (FI), so not original by many means. Thus there is less awareness behind its execution, its a dull link with intent, barely questioned because it was learned long ago (in childhood). ///////////////////IW;You've drawn an interesting distinction. When you said “ seeing it is the core of all existence and actively directing it based on this understanding...the active side of infinity. The best of our intent.”what I hear is “self knowledge”...realization of self and reality at a core level. Once again, moment to moment observation of this fact is extremely useful. I see the merit of distinguishing between “active” and “reactive” intent, with reaction being habit or culture based, and the active form being self realized, independent initiative. //////////////
RM;
For example; someone may say "I wish to stop smoking...but its SO HARD to stop." So, this type of reactive intent is perceived as "its not me or my intent, its the difficulty of giving up nicotine." The externalization of 'control', aka, "its beyond my control". Active intent reveals EVERYTHING is within our control (our intent). The reason this may initially be doubted is because, the dull link with intent (conditioned intent) makes intent seem outside of us (not our doing) when it IS our doing, all the time./////////////////IW; An excellent point. This has a lot to do with the intent to take responsibility for ones' self”. It also has to do with inertia, or in other words, built up intent within the physical body. Self realization, especially through self examination and meditation, is the remedy for the doubt you mentioned inside people. Plus then there's the poor, degraded intent of this culture in which we live...which does exactly what you pointed out...it makes everything seem to be outside of the control of the individual. It is in essence the collective embodiment of the intent of disempowerment. Realizing this and rejecting the status quo, goes a long way to remedying such disempowerment inside the self.////////////
RM;
So, we sharpen active intent, but...not over night. Not just by reading these words can one then just go out and change everything in their lives (such as give up smoking over night...one can, but unless intent is strong, likely they won't just yet..the FI will stop them). No, intent must be exercised regularly to strengthen it. Don Juan called this "sharpening the link with Intent." So again, the slow and gradual process of making intent strong, may initially cause intent to be perceived as less within ones realm of harnessing it. Its important to keep this in mind, because this merely means we need to employ persistence to "make it happen". //////////////IW;Yes, well said. The strengthening of one's link with intent, both within and without is certainly a gradual process, notunlike the gaining of high fitness from a position of weakness. An every-day application of the intent to master intent is exactly what you're talking about. In this process intent becomes more and more focused, going from bending/unsteadiness to unbending and fiercely determined.////////////
RM;
I have observed that the families one is born into also impacts intent, as do other factors. Some exhibit a stronger intent (sorcery or magic) quite naturally without understanding exactly how they do so. Some are psychics without knowing how exactly, but it runs in their families. To me this simply means the intent is passed along in such a way that it is conditioned, but unlike most conditioning, its more effective (and useful) intent. Regardless however, anyone can make these same links with power, by intending it. IW;There definitely is such a thing as family karma, or in other words, long term intention. Science is even saying now that there is such a thing as “epigenetic” traits passed on through genes...what one might call “molecules attached to the side of the DNA strand that isn't actually DNA but it close. I've often thought that the way a person lives their lives, (the intent they use every day) does in fact change their genetics over their lifetime, and that these changes are passed on through the generations. I think this partically explains the truth of what you're saying about certain family lines that exhibit more power.
RM;
In my experiences, not-doings initially serve to free up energy going previously to conditioned/reactive intent, so that it can be redeployed to be active/directed intent. A not-doing stuns the areas of our "doings" that zapped our energy and then we see where change is possible, because we have the available energy freed up. In truth, its the intent of not-doing that reveals the doing that (appeared) to be holding one captive. So...the intent to shift perspective (not-doing), and that ability to see we are always free to do so, changes the conditioned beliefs to intended actions, which they were intended actions before anyway (all actions are intended), but "given" to us at such a young age we forgot we ourselves intended it via the socialization process.///////////IW;Well said, and I agree entirely. Not doing is comparable to initiating a defragmentation of a computer...it eliminates unnecessary clutter and frees up space. It's absolutely true that people forget just how thoroughly they were conditioned to behave all their lives, especially during childhood. Given this, they mistakenly imagine that life couldn't possibly be any other way. This is the inertia and cultural/collective intention, and as you pointed out, it can be corrected through a shift of persepctive. Self and cutlural realization is once again key there.
RM;
Always we had/have the power within our grasp, each and every person, so its a matter of coming to see this, and, more importantly, act upon what we see. And then consistently to strengthen the link.////////////IW;Yes, to SEE we have such power is in large part to understand that we do not just wield intent, we ARE intent. It is an innate part of our being, at the very core of self at all levels. To understand this progressively is enables progressive action upon it, and then we do indeed strengthen our link with the intent at large...