35. All activities should be done with one intention.

The “one intention” of this slogan is to be of benefit to all sentient beings. I want to wake up, ripen compassion and cultivate the ability to let go. I want to let everything in life do this.

I recently discovered the Four Great Vows, a set of powerful aspirations for bringing this one intention to life. This teaching comes from the Zen tradition, through Ken McLeod’s book Reflections on Silver River:

• Living beings are numberless: may I free them all.
• Reactions are endless: may I release them all.
• Doors to experience are infinite: may I open them all.
• Ways of awakening are limitless: may I know them all.

McLeod brings these vows down to earth and into daily experience thus (emphasis added):

You interact with others who are lost in confusion – countless beings. Every interaction triggers a reaction in you – endless reactions. Every time a reaction releases, that is, if you are able to be aware in the experience of the reaction until it lets go, a door opens…to something you could not experience before – infinitely many doors. And every door leads you to awaken to another dimension of life – limitless awakenings.

What practices and teachings inspire you to maintain this one intention?

11.2025