Saṅkalpa

Intention, resolve, vow. The directed will that shapes action and destiny. In yoga, saṅkalpa is the conscious alignment of thought, word, and deed toward a chosen aim. The practice of setting a saṅkalpa at the beginning of sādhana roots the practitioner in purpose beyond mere mechanical repetition. In vedāntic contexts, saṅkalpa is one of the functions of manas, the faculty that deliberates and decides. It is distinct from mere wish or fantasy: saṅkalpa requires the commitment of energy (tejas) and the surrender of its fruits. See kriya, dharma.