Saṁkalpa – An Intention formed by the Heart
“The Dharma teaches us that each intentional seed we plant blooms in relationship. Nothing grows in isolation.”
Beloved Sangha,
The turning of the year is such a powerful moment in our practice. A time of culmination and possibility, where we can tap into the energy of shared intention and renewal. For me, it is a call for internal listening and reflection.
Instead of imposing ambitious New Year’s resolutions or chasing goals based on what we think should happen (how many of those do we even remember by February? ;), we can pause—and truly listen—for what already lives within our heart.
A friend once told me that, in their early years of practice, they asked their teacher:
“What can I hope to get from this practice?” (Have you ever wondered the same?)
The teacher’s response stayed with them:
“Nothing. This practice isn’t about what you gain; it’s about what you let go of.”
“Strangely, our deepest fulfilment doesn’t arise from doing, getting, or having. It comes from stepping back – allowing ourselves to un-do, to come undone…”
It is in stillness that we can begin to hear the quiet whispers of our innermost heart space – called saṁkalpa in Sanskrit. Saṁkalpa is often translated simply as “an intention formed by the heart” but its power lies not just in its meaning. It is embedded in the sound of the word itself: The potency of Saṁkalpa relies on our capacity to listen deeply.
I like to think of saṁkalpa not so much as an intention, but as a resonance that I listen for. An inner echo I am invited to attune to. Saṁkalpa isn’t about manifesting my personal desires or curating the perfect wish list. – This is a common misunderstanding in the world of spiritual self-help: that we can somehow personally manifest our individual goals. The Dharma teaches us that each intentional seed we plant blooms in relationship. Nothing grows in isolation.
“The unfolding of our saṁkalpa, our potential is integral to its environment: composed of a myriad of circumstances and ever-changing conditions.”
We fulfil our saṁkalpa in relationship to the whole. This speaks to our fundamental interbeingness – a term lovingly coined by zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.
The growth of our intentions depends on how we tend our soil – which is the interplay between our inner life and life in the world. That meeting place of inner and outer, of personal and interpersonal, of you and me is the ground that brings together the fulfilment and blossoming of saṁkalpa.
Entering this new season, I invite you to join me for a recorded Saṁkalpa Meditation. I am grateful to offer many practice opportunities, retreats and workshops this year to help nourish our ground, plant seeds and listen for the quiet call of our hearts in community.
With Love and New Years’ Blessings
x kia, Paris December 2024
