From Justice to Simply Just
Standing up against injustice is something many of us feel drawn to. It is about pushing back against unfairness, mistreatment, and harm because something inside us says, “That’s just not cool”. It is speaking out when others are misunderstood, taking action when people are mistreated or denied their voice. This can take many forms, maybe it is by raising awareness, taking matters into your own hands, protesting, fighting for change, or even engaging in legal battles to protect rights. It often requires a willingness to challenge the status quo and stand firm against pushback, but the goal is always to create a fairer, kinder, and more just world.
People who stand up for justice often do so with a sense of moral conscience, driven by the belief that people deserve fairness and respect. It is about amplifying voices or actions that are not always heard and being a force for change, no matter how difficult the path is.
As I journey through life, this notion becomes more apparent. Whenever an individual is perceived to be treated unfairly, a powerful impulse takes over. There is an urge to set things right, restore order, and make sure justice is served. This impulse can be unsettling as logic kind of takes a backseat, leaving only the drive to act. In those moments, the sole focus is to protect the perceived victimized, no matter the cost, even at the expense of own well-being, as rationality fades into the background. It is not that I do not value my safety. I do, of course, as I sit here writing these words. But in those moments, the impulse takes over, blinding me to everything else, much to the concern of those around me. And when the dust settles, when rationality returns, I am certain I would not do it again if the same situation were to arise. But do not be so sure.
Recently, this view has resurfaced. However, this time, with right awareness and wisdom of those beside me, there is a shift. Now, rather than being swept up by impulse, there is a space that says, “Hey, wait a minute, history is repeating itself, this is kind of unsettling”. What once brought a sense of pride (standing up for justice) now feels not quite right. With this understanding, there is a willingness to observe the workings of the mind. It recognizes the cause and effect and the interconnectedness of it all. Every character in this unfolding saga, including myself, is the impulse to bring things to life, finding satisfaction in bringing them to fruition. There are both victims and victimizers, yet they are not separate. Both are consumed by desire and caught in the same illusion. Where once I took pride and sought to divide, to protect one and condemn the other, now I begin to learn to see a deeper truth. A friend once told me that standing up for what is right is, in itself, an ego-driven act. I find this to be profoundly true. As The Art of War by Sun Tzu highlights, battles are won long before they are fought, provided there is an understanding of oneself and one’s opponent.
The world around us is always changing, sometimes for the better, and sometimes for the worse. It is easy to assume that a bad change will lead to a bad outcome and a good change to a good one. But honestly, we do not really know. We see everything through the filter of our preferences, belief systems, values, and past experiences. Which means, in doing so, we are often missing the point. It is not about whether something is good or bad, or whether someone is nice or nasty, but rather it is about recognizing how reality is constructed, how what is not the point can become central, and how the mind fabricates meaning out of nothing (including one's self). With this understanding, we begin to distinguish between concept and reality. Concepts take on countless forms and narratives—good and bad, should and should not, love and fear, virtue and villainy, righteousness and corruption—but beyond them all, reality simply is. Reality is universal, indisputable, and unshakeable. Reality does not demand judgement. It does not seek validation. It is nature itself.
The pursuit of justice is a reflection of our collective consciousness. We are moved by a deep-seated impulse to restore balance, to alleviate suffering, and to stand up for those who are unheard and unseen. Yet, is this impulse arising solely from wisdom, or does it emerge from attachment, from the illusion of separation?
Over time, I have come to learn, slowly but surely, that standing up against injustice is more than resisting wrongdoing, unfairness, and harm. It is a calling to recognize truth, to act with wisdom, and to align with the natural order of things. It is not merely about speaking out or taking action against oppression, but about cultivating inner clarity and discernment, understanding that true justice arises not from force, but from seeing things as they truly are.
Bringing the focus back to something closer to home. We are often very heedful in everything we do, whether it is at home, at work, in society, or within the community of practitioners. Yet, there is one area where we often fall short, which is our own salvation. All it takes is to be heedful of our attitude, no matter what role we play, whether as a parent, child, teacher, student, employer, or employee. We can continue fulfilling these roles, and if we feel called to save the world, by all means, do it. We do not need to change who we are; rather, by being heedful of our attitude, order naturally follows.
So, have we truly done justice to ourselves and others, or is all it takes simply to be just? For what once sought justice can now learn to see things just as it is. True justice is not a deliberate effort. It arises naturally and effortlessly when it is aligned with the Truth.
In grace,
Lee Hung Leng
8 April 2025