Justice is not for Just Us

I was recently asked “What is Buddhist Justice?” I was stumped for a bit by this question and really had to think about it in some detail before answering.

I have found that when given a Buddhist question that is difficult to answer it may be that it is the wrong question. The metric I use to determine this is to ask “Would you ask a Yoga instructor what is Yoga Justice?” If the answer is no then it is likely the wrong question for a Buddhist as well.

This is because Buddhism has much more in common with Yoga than it does with Christianity. Buddhism and Yoga both share an emphasis on personal awareness through following a path rather than focusing on doctrine. Buddhism teaches us how to think rather than what to think.

I once read that if you are seeking certainty from a religion then Buddhism may not be the right choice for you. This is because Buddhism does not lay out a specific set of rules to be followed. This is one of the things I like most about Buddhism. I often muse that Buddhism has a vague set of guidelines rather than a specific set of rules. Buddhism offers a personal process for life rather than a public prescription for society. You choose what works for you and feels most authentic.

The Buddha’s response to questions like this one was often silence. This occurred whenever a question had an unacceptable assumption hidden within it. The assumption here might be that Buddhists should answer the same questions that Christians like to answer. The Buddha also did not answer questions if they were asked only to start a debate or an argument.

But in America, it is very hard to just go quiet on these types of questions. People are often sincere in the question and are struggling to find guidance. Sometimes life seems very unjust and many are curious as to how a Buddhist might respond. I will do my best to give a response.

To start at the very beginning, “What is considered ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ in Buddhism?” I have been taught that things that help us personally along the path are considered “right” or “wholesome” while things that delay our progress are considered “wrong” or “unwholesome”. You can see that this is coming from a spiritual perspective.

But this is where it stops. Buddhism does not share the view that individuals are inherently “good” or “evil”. This is where Karma comes in. We are the product of our circumstances and they are infinite. You could draw the conclusion that we are therefore not responsible for our actions but this is not the only or necessary conclusion. Instead, you could say that we are all responsible for one another and when we do “good” it is due to all the help we have received. Then the only appropriate response would be one of deep gratitude.

Another spiritual difference is that Buddhism focuses on the intentions behind our actions rather than their consequences. We are all responsible for our actions but not their outcomes. So “right” would be defined as wholesome thoughts or pure intentions. For example, accidently running a red light and getting into a car accident is not a “wrong” act. But recklessly running a red light on purpose while making it through safely would not be considered a “right” action.

Practically, it makes sense that our justice system is based on consequentiality rather than intentionality because how could we prove a person’s intentions in court? But from a spiritual perspective, it is our aspirations that drive our behavior. In a sense, Buddhism is asking us to swim upstream to the source of our problems, our incorrect thinking is where the trouble begins.

We need to ask ourselves what is the purpose of our justice system. Is it to discourage others from committing crime? This has not been shown to be an effective deterrent. Is it to merely punish? If so then to what end? Do we want moral justice? This approach is often followed when we hear calls for a “war on crime” and what happens to these individuals after their sentences have been completed?

I think preserving public safety would be a valid argument along with a positive rehabilitation program. The hope being that we can keep the public safe while we work to help offenders towards a new way of life, with a new set of aspirations, a fresh set of intentions.

I mentioned Karma earlier, but most imagine this to be only our Personal Karma. The idea is that we are all autonomous individuals with freedom of choice. But I think Buddhist Justice would focus much more on our Group Karma. How we are raised and where we live as determining factors in our lives.

I have heard it said that people who have been given opportunities do not know it. It is only the people who do not have opportunities that know it. So perhaps we can begin to appreciate our gifts, feel gratitude and help others feel the same way. My life is not under my sole control and I am thankful for that. Without others helping me, I would not be here. Let us help others so they can also feel appreciated and be grateful to be alive.

Namoamidabutsu, Rev Jon Turner