<p>SN 56.7 Vitakkasutta – <strong>mjaviem</strong> translation</p>
<blockquote>
<p>‘Bhikkhus, do not think/intend/aim/set for yourselves dismal thoughts/purposes/resolutions which do no good; that is, thoughts/purposes/resolutions of sensuality, thoughts/purposes/resolutions of malevolence, thoughts/purposes/resolutions of inhumanity. Why? These thoughts/purposes/resolutions, bhikkhus, are not pertinent, they are not directed to spiritual conduct, to jadedness, to disinterestedness, to clearing, to tranquillity, to realisation, to enlightenment, to dissipation.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>‘When you think/intend/aim/set for yourselves at something, bhikkhus, you should think/intend/aim/set for yourselves at: ‘This is difficulty’; you should think/intend/aim/set for yourselves at: ‘This is the source of difficulty’; you should think/intend/aim/set for yourselves at: ‘This is the clearing of difficulty’; you should think/intend/aim/set for yourselves at: ‘This is the dedication that leads to the clearing of difficulty.’ Why? These purposes/resolutions, bhikkhus, are pertinent, they are directed to spiritual conduct, to jadedness, to disinterestedness, to clearing, to tranquillity, to realisation, to enlightenment, to dissipation.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>‘Therefore, bhikkhus, one should devote oneself to: ‘This is difficulty’. One has to devote oneself to: ‘This is the source of difficulty.’ One has to devote oneself to: ‘This is the clearing of difficulty’. One must devote oneself to: ‘This is the dedication that leads to the clearing of difficulty’.’</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-12-01T02:14:12.793Z
Great ref. I think also there is a sutta (maybe MN) that uses goals as its framework for Nibbana.
Bhikkhu111
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-11-27T14:57:09.180Z
2024-11-27T14:57:09.180Z
mjaviem
<h2>How are goals used in Theravada Buddhism and Buddhist practice in general in a positive way.</h2>
<p>How do goals relate to the early teachings, and one's own practice in a positive way.</p>
<hr />
<p><em>Prior discussions on Buddhism Stack Exchange:</em></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/24834/difference-between-attachment-and-goals">Difference between Attachment and Goals</a></li>
<li><a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/8616/does-suffering-motivate-us-to-achieve-our-goals">Does suffering motivate us to achieve our goals?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/7585/is-it-possible-to-set-goals-for-the-future-and-be-present-at-the-same-time">Is it possible to set goals for the future and be present at the same time?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/26309/is-nirvana-the-goal-for-zen-and-theravada">Is Nirvana the goal, for Zen and Theravada?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/24231/why-does-buddhism-seem-to-have-more-than-one-goal">Why does Buddhism seem to have more than one goal?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/45490/should-meditation-be-practiced-without-a-goal">Should meditation be practiced without a goal?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/1961/is-nirvana-the-goal-for-all-buddhist">Is Nirvana the goal for all Buddhist?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/9161/is-mindfulness-the-path-or-the-goal">Is mindfulness the path or the goal?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/44471/how-can-someone-integrate-the-buddhist-philosophy-on-lifes-purpose-into-daily-l">How can someone integrate the Buddhist philosophy on life's purpose into daily life?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/25768/ambitions-are-they-real-or-just-an-illusion">Ambitions - Are they Real or just an Illusion</a></li>
<li><a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/8776/stopping-tanha-or-craving">Stopping Tanha or craving</a></li>
<li><a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/17619/attachment-to-practice-itself">Attachment to practice itself</a></li>
</ul>

<theravada><reference-request><sutta-reference><goals>
Goals and Buddhism
# Goals and Buddhism

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-11-27)

## How are goals used in Theravada Buddhism and Buddhist practice in general in a positive way.

How do goals relate to the early teachings, and one's own practice in a positive way.

---

*Prior discussions on Buddhism Stack Exchange:*

* [Difference between Attachment and Goals](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/24834/difference-between-attachment-and-goals)
* [Does suffering motivate us to achieve our goals?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/8616/does-suffering-motivate-us-to-achieve-our-goals)
* [Is it possible to set goals for the future and be present at the same time?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/7585/is-it-possible-to-set-goals-for-the-future-and-be-present-at-the-same-time)
* [Is Nirvana the goal, for Zen and Theravada?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/26309/is-nirvana-the-goal-for-zen-and-theravada)
* [Why does Buddhism seem to have more than one goal?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/24231/why-does-buddhism-seem-to-have-more-than-one-goal)
* [Should meditation be practiced without a goal?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/45490/should-meditation-be-practiced-without-a-goal)
* [Is Nirvana the goal for all Buddhist?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/1961/is-nirvana-the-goal-for-all-buddhist)
* [Is mindfulness the path or the goal?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/9161/is-mindfulness-the-path-or-the-goal)
* [How can someone integrate the Buddhist philosophy on life's purpose into daily life?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/44471/how-can-someone-integrate-the-buddhist-philosophy-on-lifes-purpose-into-daily-l)
* [Ambitions - Are they Real or just an Illusion](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/25768/ambitions-are-they-real-or-just-an-illusion)
* [Stopping Tanha or craving](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/8776/stopping-tanha-or-craving)
* [Attachment to practice itself](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/17619/attachment-to-practice-itself)

**Tags:** theravada, reference-request, sutta-reference, goals


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2024-11-27. Score: 3

SN 56.7 Vitakkasutta – **username_1** translation

> ‘Bhikkhus, do not think/intend/aim/set for yourselves dismal thoughts/purposes/resolutions which do no good; that is, thoughts/purposes/resolutions of sensuality, thoughts/purposes/resolutions of malevolence, thoughts/purposes/resolutions of inhumanity. Why? These thoughts/purposes/resolutions, bhikkhus, are not pertinent, they are not directed to spiritual conduct, to jadedness, to disinterestedness, to clearing, to tranquillity, to realisation, to enlightenment, to dissipation.

> ‘When you think/intend/aim/set for yourselves at something, bhikkhus, you should think/intend/aim/set for yourselves at: ‘This is difficulty’; you should think/intend/aim/set for yourselves at: ‘This is the source of difficulty’; you should think/intend/aim/set for yourselves at: ‘This is the clearing of difficulty’; you should think/intend/aim/set for yourselves at: ‘This is the dedication that leads to the clearing of difficulty.’ Why? These purposes/resolutions, bhikkhus, are pertinent, they are directed to spiritual conduct, to jadedness, to disinterestedness, to clearing, to tranquillity, to realisation, to enlightenment, to dissipation.

> ‘Therefore, bhikkhus, one should devote oneself to: ‘This is difficulty’. One has to devote oneself to: ‘This is the source of difficulty.’ One has to devote oneself to: ‘This is the clearing of difficulty’. One must devote oneself to: ‘This is the dedication that leads to the clearing of difficulty’.’

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Great ref. I think also there is a sutta (maybe MN) that uses goals as its framework for Nibbana.  

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