Written for the AQA syllabus by Upeksacitta (Robert Ellis), member of the Western Buddhist Order and a former Head of RS.
Right Aspiration
Right Aspiration (sometimes translated as 'Right Attitude', 'Right Resolve', 'Right Emotion', or much less precisely as 'Right Thoughts') is a further aspect of wisdom developed in the Noble Eightfold Path alongside Right View. Whilst Right View is concerned with complete understanding and acceptance, Right Aspiration is concerned with the motivation to develop towards Enlightenment. It consists in faith and a desire to progress.
Extract from the Pali Canon on Right Aspiration (with notes in square brackets)
Of those, right view is the forerunner. And how is right view the forerunner? One discerns wrong resolve as wrong resolve, and right resolve as right resolve. And what is wrong resolve? Being resolved on sensuality, on ill will, on harmfulness. This is wrong resolve.
And what is right resolve? Right resolve, I tell you, is of two sorts: There is right resolve with effluents, siding with merit, resulting in acquisitions [i.e. creating kamma]; and there is noble right resolve, without effluents, transcendent, a factor of the path [i.e. without kamma].
And what is the right resolve that has effluents, sides with merit, and results in acquisitions? Being resolved on renunciation, on freedom from ill will, on harmlessness. This is the right resolve that has effluents, sides with merit, and results in acquisitions.
And what is the right resolve that is without effluents, transcendent, a factor of the path? The thinking, directed thinking, resolve, mental absorption, mental fixity, focused awareness, and verbal fabrications in one developing the noble path whose mind is noble, whose mind is without effluents, who is fully possessed of the noble path. This is the right resolve that is without effluents, transcendent, a factor of the path.
One tries to abandon wrong resolve and to enter into right resolve: This is one's right effort. One is mindful to abandon wrong resolve and to enter and remain in right resolve: This is one's right mindfulness. Thus these three qualities-right view, right effort, and right mindfulness-run and circle around right resolve.
Middle-Length Sayings (Majjhima Nikaya) Sutta 117, Pali Text Society
Summarise what this passage is saying about right aspiration/resolve
Jack Kornfield on Right Aspiration
The American Buddhist teacher Jack Kornfield has an interesting practical account of Right Aspiration, which he calls Right Attitude. He says that there are three aspects to it: openness, renunciation and love. Read his account in chapter 2 of the e-book and take notes on what he says about each of these three aspects.