Intention with Noah Levine

Intention with Noah Levine

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? Here, Buddhist teacher Noah Levine talks about intention as the engine behind every action, and why that matters so much for anyone trying to suffer less and live more wisely.

Speaking to a mixed room of in-person and online meditators, Noah frames intention as the second factor of the Eightfold Path and the basis of karma: what counts is “the intention that is fueling the act, not the act itself.” He unpacks three core aims of wise intention: thoughts free from craving, from ill will, and from cruelty.

Craving here isn’t just sexual lust – it’s the pull towards any pleasant experience, from ice cream to drugs – and Noah openly links this to addiction and recovery. You’ll hear clear, practical meditation guidance, including working with the “monkey mind”, returning to the breath, and noticing whether experiences feel pleasant, unpleasant or neutral.

Noah distinguishes between thoughts we choose (volitional) and those that just pop up (non-volitional), and suggests treating the latter as “bad advice” from the mind rather than proof of failure. The talk also touches on loving-kindness as a daily retraining of the brain. For years he repeated phrases like “may all beings be happy” before they felt genuine, illustrating how repetition slowly shifts old habits of hatred, resentment and self-hatred towards compassion and forgiveness.

The tone is frank, funny and earthy – expect references to punk, tattoos and being “really fucking uncomfortable” in meditation – yet grounded in classic Buddhist teachings. It’s especially relevant if you’re in recovery or wrestling with strong cravings, anger or shame and want a practice that doesn’t pretend those feelings vanish overnight. If you asked yourself honestly, what is your intention for this life and for your recovery, how might your day look different starting today?