“Intention setting” is a concept you can find in a variety of Buddhist contexts, either as a daily practice done by an individual, or a communal ceremony performed by a sangha (community) of Buddhists.
This article describes an intention setting ceremony I synthesized for my weekly Recovery Dharma group to run together around New Years. I’m sharing it for the sake of RD groups, other Buddhist meetings, or anyone else who wants to try a ceremony like this!
Setting a wholesome intention for the new year
The core idea is that instead of doing “new years resolutions” – which don’t work and can promote unhealthy expectations – we pick an “intention” for the new year and work to keep that wholesome motivation in our heart at all times. We’re less likely to “screw up” our intention with a single action than with a “resolution” and the intention gives us something we can come back to on a day to day basis to improve ourselves over the year.
I’ve participated in several versions of this exercise at Buddhist meetings and retreats, and in my experience they are beautiful and very motivating, especially around the new year.
In addition to integrating what I remember from the ceremonies I’ve attended, I read a few articles that gave me ideas and inspiration for the steps and guided meditation below. Here are the ones I found most useful:
- Time to set my intentions for the coming year by Sean Gardner
- Set Your Intention & Rejoice in Your Day by Thupten Jinpa
One note is that you really want to have time for everyone to talk, so if that’s not normal in your group, plan the time carefully and maybe keep the earlier meditation shorter and/or time people’s shares carefully.
Intention-Setting Ceremony Steps
- Begin the meeting normally with introductions and readings.
- Run the meditation normally, though aim to have it a bit shorter than normal to allow more time for sharing later. If possible, choose a meditation that goes with the theme of intention setting.
- As a reading after the meditation, use the following paragraphs from the Recovery Dharma book:
Karma and Intentions
Wise Intention is deciding to act in ways that produce good karma and to avoid actions that produce bad karma. We start by looking at the kinds of thoughts that cause us to act in wise or unwise ways. If our thoughts are based on confusion, fear, and greed, then our actions will bring bad results and create harm. If our thoughts are based on generosity, compassion, and avoiding clinging, then our actions will bring good results. Thoughts that are based in lovingkindness and goodwill, that are free from the desire or intention to cause harm, lead us to act in a beneficial manner.
There may be times when we don’t necessarily want to act in a beneficial manner. We may know the right thing to do, but just don’t want to do it. It’s in these moments we can focus on our intention. Maybe we aren’t ready to do the difficult thing, to quit a certain behavior, to set a boundary, or forgive someone for whom we hold a resentment. But we can set the intention to do so, and investigate our willingness in meditation by repeating statements like “May I have the willingness to forgive…. May I have the willingness to quit smoking (or skip that piece of cake, or stay off the internet tonight, etc.)…. May I have the willingness to make amends to my partner.”
- Introduce the concept of the ceremony. How do this is up to you, mainly you just want to explain what will happy and why, but for the sake of those not sure what to say, here’s an example text:
Ceremony Introduction
We’ll now move on to the “Intention setting ceremony”, which is based on a long Buddhist tradition, especially in Tibetan lineage. The goal of the ceremony is to inquire within ourselves about what emotional intention will serve us best in the new year, and what states of mind and being will bring about the results we’re most hoping for.
One idea you may want to keep in mind is the difference between “intention” and “motivation”. In many cases our motivations are automatic and instinctual, and too often they are unhealthy reactions like craving, fear, and delusion. In contrast with our “motivations”, our “intentions” are the goals we actively set for ourselves, the ways we choose to be because we believe they will have good results. In Buddhism we’re encouraged to hold onto intentions like kindness, generosity, and patience, which can help protect us from the negative emotions that try to overwhelm us.
The intention or intentions you uncover in this ceremony can hopefully inspire you throughout the new year. Maybe you’ll choose to write them down later and return to them once per month to consider how you’ve been integrating them into your life.
- Ask everyone to get back into a sitting posture for a short, guided meditation where they will choose an intention for the year.
- Lead the short meditation:
Intention-Setting Guided Meditation
Get comfortable and start to breathe smoothly and deeply.
As is common in Tibetan meditation practice, do a few very deep breaths, filling your lungs like a jar being filled with water right to the lip, as if it would overflow, then slowly but fully emptying them.
Each time you breathe out, ask yourself “What is my deepest intention”
Breathing in, as deep as you can
Breathing out, asking yourself “What is the change I need in my life, and what are the intentions that will bring that change to fruition?”
Pause
“What intention will bring peace and happiness for myself, and for those I love?”
You can think of just one, or several. Listen to your deepest heart as you breathe out.
Pause
“What motivations are blocking these intentions from being fulfilled in my life?”
Pause
“What is my deepest intention for this coming year?”
Pause
Ring bell
- At this point, they probably have something to say, but leave a few quiet moments for them to process it if they haven’t decided yet.
- Invite everyone to share based on the following prompts (for online meetings, paste them prompts into the chat):
- What was the intention, and why is it important in your life?
- What can you do, in the coming year, to support this intention and help it come to fruition?
- What underlying motivations and related wholesome states will support this intention?
- What underlying motivations will hinder this motivation, and how will you stand on guard with mindfulness against these defilements and challenges?
- When everyone who wants to share has done so, continue with the meeting announcements and dedication of merit as normal.
In person meetings only: Use candles!
For online meetings, I think the candle thing can be a bit of a distraction, but when doing this ceremony at an in-person meeting, a great way to add to the ambiance is to integrate a tea candle for each participant:
- If you can dim the lights, try to do so before the ceremony.
- Before starting, light a large candle next to enough small, unlit candles for each of the participants.
- When each person shares their intention with the group, have them come forward and light their candle slowly while holding their intention in their heart, then sit down and share with the group out loud, as described above.
May your wholesome intentions bring you peace and joy!
Like I said, it has worked great for me in various meetings over the years.
Please feel free to copy this and try it out now or just after new years! Change anything you want, and if you have feedback to share with future readers, please leave it in the comments 🙏🏻
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