Non-Intention

Think about a dam holding back a reservoir of water.  Were we to punch a hole in the dam, the water would gush out that hole.  The water would not decide to gush out, and it certainly would not intend to gush out.  Nor would it "not intend" to gush out the hole.  Intention, as a concept, simply cannot be applied to the water.  As hole, so gushing water.

Let me put it another way.  When reading this chapter, were you Intending to read this chapter, or was reading "happening"?  Were you Intending to read or were you just reading?  You certainly were not "not intending" to read.  Were you thinking about reading the words or were you reading them?  As chapter, so reading.  As living, so breathing.  As sleeping, so dreaming.  (And if you are wondering if we can say that there is "a chapter" aside from your reading of it then you have understood this chapter quite well.)

-- Dr. Steve Pearlman, author, instructor, and martial arts philosopher, The Book of Martial Power (2006) Chapter 68 "Non-Intention" p. 208