Injustice by Consent

This is a is tricky subject. There is justice and injustice. If justice is according to natural law, it is a subject of cause and effect. If we do something, it will have an effect. If we do a wrong, we must put it right.

Karma is the result of cause and effect: it is not a punishment. Our reactions are the results of a mistaken view: a clouding of our mind which has to be cleared. This clouding is called the storehouse of obscurations, which filters our view and creates the cycle of existence in which we live.

A common cause of injustice is human selfishness. As Plato described in the Republic, people will often commit acts of injustice when they calculate that it is in their interests to do so. Plato also adds that “The highest reach of injustice is to be deemed just, when you are not”.

This is written so that we don’t hide behind the word “karma” when we see injustice in the world. The tricky business is that our karma brought us to the situation in which we find ourselves, and it is important to reflect on how we may put a stop to injustice while not creating more karma through our reactions. Buddhists cannot ignore injustice in the world: unfortunately, there are those who do because all they want to do is do their meditation…

But now we come to justice and injustice in law: laws are only cultural rules to govern a population. Depending on the party in power, these rules will lean to their benefit. I cannot say that they are always of benefit to the people as, for example, governments hide taxes in doublespeak and then hide the spending of that money in doublespeak. Using the terms austerity and sustainability is covering up agendas to which we unwittingly consent.

Buddhism talks about karma, but there are things going on in the world which are detrimental to the well being of its populations. If we talk about karma here, we must consider collective karma. Rules are made which seem innocuous but have a huge knock-on effect in society: such is the machinations of politics.

Machinations: scheming, schemes, plotting, plots, intrigues, conspiracies, ruses, tricks, wiles, stratagems, tactics, manoeuvering.

Injustices will continue as long as the major proportion of the population remains deceived. It starts at the top. At some time, the consciences of the lower ranks will prick them, and there will be change. Over reacting will not help, as this will only fuel the problem. It is clarity of knowledge and awareness that will change people’s perception of the truth. Both conventional and absolute truth.

This links back to addictions and consent. If we didn’t watch TV, buy ‘new’ papers, or obsess about our addictions…they would have to take note, because we no longer consent to believe. WE MERELY HAVE TO WITH-HOLD OUR CONSENT.