Chandogya Upanishad 7.8
intermediate
संकल्पो वाव मनसो भूयान्। यदा वै संकल्पयतेऽथ मनस्यति अथ वाचमीरयति तामु नाम्नीरयति नाम्नि मन्त्रा एकं भवन्ति मन्त्रेषु कर्माणि। संकल्प एव ब्रह्मोपास्स्व॥
saṃkalpo vāva manaso bhūyān | yadā vai saṃkalpayate\'tha manasyati atha vācamīrayati tāmu nāmnīrayati nāmni mantrā ekaṃ bhavanti mantreṣu karmāṇi | saṃkalpa eva brahmopāsva ||
""Will/intention (sankalpa) is greater than mind. When one wills, then one thinks, then one speaks, then names arise, and in names mantras become one, and in mantras, actions. Meditate on will as Brahman.""
What This Means:
Will/intention is the source of mind, speech, names, mantras, and actions. Everything flows from intention.
Going Deeper:
The progression: mind < will (sankalpa). Intention is the creative power behind all mental activity.
How To Apply This:
Be aware of your deepest intentions. They create your thoughts, words, and actions.
#will#sankalpa#intention#source of action