This is a common misconception that we have discussed before. But since it is important, let me explain it again.
The actual “intention” (cetana) is what kind of mental factors (cetasika) arise in one’s mind. That critically depends on one’s views (ditthi). This is a CRITICAL thing that many people do not understand.
Let us take this animal sacrifice. Those who engage in that believe that it will be beneficial to them. What they believe DOES NOT MATTER.
What matters is whether a given action involves one or more dasa akusala, and if so it will bring bad kamma vipaka.
In the case of this animal sacrifice, there are TWO akusala involved: One is killing animals. The second is the wrong view (micca ditthi) that animal sacrifice (killing of animals) leads to benefits (good kamma vipaka) for them. The second one is an even stronger akusala.
This is why one’s intention may not be what one thinks it is. In this case, those people are happy to carry out this bad kamma and they expect good vipaka (benefits), based on their wrong views. They THINK and BELIEVE that have good intentions. But they do not.
This is why it is important to study and understand what the 10 types of micca ditthi are, and make sure one does not engage in them.
More information can be found at:
“adding kamma vs. receiving vipaka”
I strongly suggest reading both. This is a critical issue to understand.
