Love this article and especially the call-out about ego. Also reminds me of the following shocking / insightful idea: despite how hard some of us instinctively want to cling to "truth", truth is not very valuable in the order of things; perhaps it is not intrinsically valuable at all, only instrumentally valuable. From an article:
"Some intrinsic goods are better than others, though, and this article considers the question of how good truth is, compared to other intrinsic goods. I argue that truth is the worst of all intrinsic goods; every other intrinsic good is better than it. I also suggest the best explanation for truth's inferiority is that it is not really an intrinsic good at all. It is intrinsically neutral."
Ive recently noticed my justice sensitivity really activate while driving. Especially if the person in front of me is driving significantly below the speed limit. Ive had to go back to radical acceptance and what Maharaji told Ram Dass when the indo-Pakistani war broke out and Ram Dass spoke up in anguish over the human suffering “sub ek” it’s all one (or all perfect in another teaching). It’s only from a place of deep acceptance that we can hope to change things.
Another Jewish teaching is “the work is not on you to complete, nor are you free to abstain from it”
Thank you for reading and weighing in Ben. You're so right. So much of our righteous anger comes from feeling disconnected or separate from others, as if we are victims and something is being done to us—when we are actually all one, experiencing suffering and joy together. I really appreciate your perspective on this and you sharing these teachings!
You’re welcome. And, I think it’s important to hold the truth that many of us are victims. And we should feel the anger (righteous anger is actually beautiful). And like Lisa Feldman Barrett put it, emotions usually last up to 90 seconds. So once we feel it and let it go, we can move to action. If we’re so called. Moving from a place of dharma rather than karma. Being in right relationship to right action is key. As Krishnamurti explains, every time we fight against something, we inadvertently pull its karma into the new thing. Reminds me of the Buckminster Fuller quote "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsoleted."
Yes! A certain amount of anger propels us towards effective change, when channeled effectively, if we are willing and able to rise to the occasion. I love the Buckminster quote!! You're full of great ideas here :)
Thanks! Anger as fuel is tricky. Anger as a feeling to honor justice is sacred. Ive been studying the polycrisis and possible solutions so this is in my wheelhouse lol
Reading this, I kept thinking of the Buddhist teaching of the two arrows. The pain of the injustice itself, and the suffering we layer on top of it by needing it to resolve differently. Justice-sensitive minds often get hit by both. The star thrower feels like a gentle reorientation: act where you can, release what you can’t. Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you for reading Melinda! Absolutely—the two arrows are exactly what I had in mind here :) We all have the power to be star throwers, even if it can't solve everything.
Once again, you've written something that resonates with me, thank you! It's a constant struggle, but my prophylactics have been meditation and acceptance of my willingness to pay the price to maintain my integrity by speaking up for what's right.
Thank you David for taking the time to read and reply! Meditation can be enormously helpful for many of us. I really respect your sense of integrity and your personal willingness to do what's right regardless. It's certainly not the easy path.
I live in a country where this is especially true. My “sense of justice” constantly clashes with self-preservation and my survival, in an environment that is not meant for people like me. What I see happening behind the façade of good appearances is the opposite of my ethics. The hypocrisy is loud.
Too often, I give in and flip a table out of sheer exhaustion. And I know this reaction is not good for me…
Thank you for reading and sharing your experience Laura. This is so challenging. It's hard not be furious, especially when you are justified in your anger! As you said, our work is to react in a way that serves our ultimate purpose, though that doesn't always feel possible. Sometimes we need to allow ourselves to be in that negative space for a bit to process through our frustration before we can move towards anything productive.
Yeah, learning how to use those negatives feelings to our advantage and not to let ourselves being crushed by them is the real challenge. Because if we do let them take over, the injustice wins twice
Love this article and especially the call-out about ego. Also reminds me of the following shocking / insightful idea: despite how hard some of us instinctively want to cling to "truth", truth is not very valuable in the order of things; perhaps it is not intrinsically valuable at all, only instrumentally valuable. From an article:
"Some intrinsic goods are better than others, though, and this article considers the question of how good truth is, compared to other intrinsic goods. I argue that truth is the worst of all intrinsic goods; every other intrinsic good is better than it. I also suggest the best explanation for truth's inferiority is that it is not really an intrinsic good at all. It is intrinsically neutral."
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/papq.12117
Wow, thanks for sharing Victor—that's a fascinating notion I hadn't even considered. Truth as intrinsically neutral. Excited to read the article!
Ive recently noticed my justice sensitivity really activate while driving. Especially if the person in front of me is driving significantly below the speed limit. Ive had to go back to radical acceptance and what Maharaji told Ram Dass when the indo-Pakistani war broke out and Ram Dass spoke up in anguish over the human suffering “sub ek” it’s all one (or all perfect in another teaching). It’s only from a place of deep acceptance that we can hope to change things.
Another Jewish teaching is “the work is not on you to complete, nor are you free to abstain from it”
Thank you for reading and weighing in Ben. You're so right. So much of our righteous anger comes from feeling disconnected or separate from others, as if we are victims and something is being done to us—when we are actually all one, experiencing suffering and joy together. I really appreciate your perspective on this and you sharing these teachings!
You’re welcome. And, I think it’s important to hold the truth that many of us are victims. And we should feel the anger (righteous anger is actually beautiful). And like Lisa Feldman Barrett put it, emotions usually last up to 90 seconds. So once we feel it and let it go, we can move to action. If we’re so called. Moving from a place of dharma rather than karma. Being in right relationship to right action is key. As Krishnamurti explains, every time we fight against something, we inadvertently pull its karma into the new thing. Reminds me of the Buckminster Fuller quote "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsoleted."
Yes! A certain amount of anger propels us towards effective change, when channeled effectively, if we are willing and able to rise to the occasion. I love the Buckminster quote!! You're full of great ideas here :)
Thanks! Anger as fuel is tricky. Anger as a feeling to honor justice is sacred. Ive been studying the polycrisis and possible solutions so this is in my wheelhouse lol
Would love to read an article on this if you've written about it or would suggest any resources!
I haven’t written on this but have plenty of resources to share
J Altazar recommended you.
Thank you for taking a read!
This piece explains so much! It's going to change my self-understanding--not to mention my understanding of my child.
Oh Laurie I'm so glad it was useful for you!! Thank you for reading and sharing this with me 🙂
Fantastic article. The image of the star thrower will stay with me as a metaphor for long time to come.
Thank you Lori! That means so much ❤️
Reading this, I kept thinking of the Buddhist teaching of the two arrows. The pain of the injustice itself, and the suffering we layer on top of it by needing it to resolve differently. Justice-sensitive minds often get hit by both. The star thrower feels like a gentle reorientation: act where you can, release what you can’t. Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you for reading Melinda! Absolutely—the two arrows are exactly what I had in mind here :) We all have the power to be star throwers, even if it can't solve everything.
Once again, you've written something that resonates with me, thank you! It's a constant struggle, but my prophylactics have been meditation and acceptance of my willingness to pay the price to maintain my integrity by speaking up for what's right.
Thank you David for taking the time to read and reply! Meditation can be enormously helpful for many of us. I really respect your sense of integrity and your personal willingness to do what's right regardless. It's certainly not the easy path.
I feel this to my bones.
I live in a country where this is especially true. My “sense of justice” constantly clashes with self-preservation and my survival, in an environment that is not meant for people like me. What I see happening behind the façade of good appearances is the opposite of my ethics. The hypocrisy is loud.
Too often, I give in and flip a table out of sheer exhaustion. And I know this reaction is not good for me…
Thank you for reading and sharing your experience Laura. This is so challenging. It's hard not be furious, especially when you are justified in your anger! As you said, our work is to react in a way that serves our ultimate purpose, though that doesn't always feel possible. Sometimes we need to allow ourselves to be in that negative space for a bit to process through our frustration before we can move towards anything productive.
Yeah, learning how to use those negatives feelings to our advantage and not to let ourselves being crushed by them is the real challenge. Because if we do let them take over, the injustice wins twice
Wow—absolutely. Very well said.