Zen Formulation of the Social Good

Abstract

Ethicists often address the question of the social ‘good’ in terms of justice. Zen Buddhists, however, have never set forth a systematic formulation of justice. Perhaps this is not surprising, given that the concept originated in the West and hence is foreign to the tradition. To some Zen Buddhists the idea of ‘justice’ is not simply foreign but also contrary to the spirit of Zen. Treating justice in terms of judgment and punishment, Abe Masao writes:

… the notion of justice is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it sharply judges which is right and which is wrong. On the other hand, the judgment based on justice will naturally cause a counter-judgment as a reaction from the side thus judged. Accordingly, we may fall into endless conflict and struggle between the judge and the judged.¹

In place of justice in this sense, Abe advocates prajñā as a recognition of everyone and everything in its nonsubstantial distinctiveness or ‘suchness’. From his perspective, justice and wisdom lead to very different ethical stances in society. To Abe, justice, ‘when carried to its final conclusion, often results in punishment, conflict, revenge and even war, whereas wisdom entails rapprochement, conciliation, harmony and peace’.²