In Chinese Buddhism, the concept of Sammā-Saṅkappa (Pali) or Samyak-Saṃkalpa (Sanskrit) is most commonly translated as 正思惟 (Zhèng Sīwéi).
While often translated in English as "Right Intention" or "Right Resolve," the term "Wise Will" captures the active, volitional quality of the mind aligning itself with wisdom.
The Chinese Translation: 正思惟 (Zhèng Sīwéi)
- 正 (Zhèng): Right, correct, or "wise" (in the sense of being aligned with truth).
- 思惟 (Sīwéi): Thought, contemplation, or reflection.
In the Chinese tradition, this is the second limb of the Noble Eightfold Path (八正道, Bā Zhèngdào). It follows "Right View" because once you see the world clearly, you must then resolve or intend to act upon that vision.
The Three Pillars of Wise Will
According to the original teachings (Suttas/Agamas), Samma Sankappa is not just "thinking good thoughts." It is a specific commitment to three types of mental resolve:
- 出離 (Chūlí) – Resolve for Renunciation: The will to let go of craving and the obsessive pursuit of sensory pleasures. It is the wisdom of realizing that "more" does not equal "peace."
- 無恚 (Wúhuì) – Resolve for Non-Ill Will: The cultivation of loving-kindness (Metta). It is the commitment to replace anger and resentment with benevolence and good wishes for others.
- 無害 (Wúhài) – Resolve for Harmlessness: The cultivation of compassion (Karuna). It is the firm intention to never cause pain or cruelty to any living being, including oneself.
Why it is "Wise Will"
In Chinese philosophy, especially within the Mahayana tradition, 思惟 is more than just passive thinking. It is "purposive thought." It serves as the bridge between Wisdom (seeing the Four Noble Truths) and Ethics (how you speak and act). Without this "Wise Will," your understanding remains a mere intellectual exercise.
By aligning your will with non-attachment, kindness, and compassion, you are essentially "weeding the garden" of the mind so that your actions (Right Speech and Right Action) can grow purely.
正見 (Zhèngjiàn), is the first step of the Eightfold Path.
In English, it is most commonly translated as Right View or Right Understanding. In Pali, it is Sammā Diṭṭhi.
Why it comes first
If Samma Sankappa (Wise Will) is the engine of the path, 正見 (Zhèngjiàn) is the steering wheel. You cannot have "Wise Will" until you first have "Wise Vision."
The Meaning of Zhèngjiàn (正見)
- 正 (Zhèng): Right, upright, or correct.
- 見 (Jiàn): To see, to view, or to perceive.
In Chinese Buddhism, "Right View" isn’t about having a dogmatic opinion; it’s about seeing reality as it actually is, rather than how we want it to be. It primarily involves understanding two things:
- Karma (Law of Cause and Effect): Realizing that our intentional actions have consequences.
- The Four Noble Truths: Recognizing the nature of suffering, its cause (craving), its end, and the path to that end.
The Relationship Between the Two
In the traditional sequence, they work together like this:
- Zhèngjiàn (Right View): You "see" the map and realize that certain behaviors lead to suffering while others lead to peace.
- Zhèng Sīwéi (Wise Will): Based on what you’ve seen, you "resolve" to follow the map and change your intentions.
A Note on Pronunciation
In Mandarin:
- Zhèng sounds like "jung" (with a falling tone).
- Jiàn sounds like "jyen" or "jen" (with a sharp falling tone).
In the context of Samma Sankappa (Wise Will / Right Intention), the very first resolve is Renunciation, known in Chinese as 出離 (Chūlí).
While "renunciation" often sounds like giving everything up and moving to a cave, in the Buddhist sense, it is much more psychological and liberating.
What Renunciation (Chūlí) Really Means
In Chinese, the characters offer a beautiful clue:
- 出 (Chū): To go out, to emerge, or to exit.
- 離 (Lí): To leave behind, to separate from, or to be free of.
It is the intention to exit the trap of craving. It is the realization that chasing temporary desires is like "drinking salt water to quench thirst"—the more you drink, the thirstier you get.
The Internal Shift
Renunciation isn't necessarily about what you own; it’s about how much you are owned by your desires. It involves three key shifts:
- From Grasping to Letting Go: Shifting from the mindset of "I must have this to be happy" to "I am content regardless of this."
- From Sensory Obsession to Mental Peace: Recognizing that true happiness (Sukha) comes from a settled mind rather than a fleeting external stimulus.
- Resistance to "The Flow": Most of the world flows toward more consumption and more attachment. Renunciation is the "Wise Will" to swim against that current toward freedom.
How it Connects to "Right View" (Zhèngjiàn)
This is why you need 正見 (Zhèngjiàn) first. Once you "see" that attachment causes suffering, your "will" naturally moves toward renunciation. You don't give things up because you are punishing yourself; you let them go because you realize they are heavy and you are tired of carrying them.
The Three Intentions Together
Renunciation is the foundation for the other two intentions:
- Renunciation (Self-restraint): I will not be a slave to my desires.
- Non-Ill Will (Kindness): I will not be a slave to my anger.
- Harmlessness (Compassion): I will not be a slave to my cruelty.