Equity

Once we understand the difference between Judgment and Discernment, we understand the difference between Equity and Equality. Whenever I find myself thinking something is unfair, I urge myself to think again using a wider lens that doesn't place me at the center of universe.

Episode Transcript

(00:06):
Welcome to the Buddhist Boot Camp Podcast.
Our intention is to awaken, enlighten, enrich, and inspire a simple and uncomplicated life.
Discover the benefits of mindful living with your host, Timber Hawkeye.

(00:27):
Since early childhood, I have witnessed countless adults being cruel and hostile,
abusing and mistreating people, yet still demanding respect from them, even
reverence, simply because of their job title, their age, family relation, or military rank.
As a rebellious teenager, my first tattoo was of the word "Equality"

(00:48):
to remind myself to never look down on anyone or look up to anyone.
I refused to play the hierarchy game regardless of what anyone has
achieved in their life if they haven't mastered common decency first.
That sounds about right for a rebellious teenager, doesn't it?
Later in life, as a paralegal, I chose to work at

(01:08):
firms where the lawyers saw me as a colleague, not a subordinate.
And even at the monastery, I valued the residents who still considered themselves
students after living there for many years, instead of walking around all high and mighty.
Many of the Buddha's teachings align with the concepts of fairness and justice.

(01:28):
It turns out that Equality, which has been so central to my values, is not the
most considerate approach after all.
When it comes to fairness, Equity is significantly more inclusive than Equality
because Equity takes everyone's unique circumstances into consideration.
Equity, not Equality, ensures a reasonable, suitable, and ethical approach.

(01:51):
My Equality tattoo may have been a virtuous intention at 18, but now I know
it wasn't comprehensive enough.
A common distinction between Equity and Equality is of a neighborhood with ten houses
on it, where only one house is on fire.
Equity means all of the buckets of water are to be directed to the burning house, whereas

(02:12):
Equality means every house on the block gets a bucket of water regardless of need.
In that scenario, and so many others, Equality no longer sounds that virtuous at all.
There will inevitably be neighbors on the block whose house is not on fire saying
it's not fair that they're not getting a bucket of water as well. But, as Gandhi said,
"There is enough on this earth for everyone's need, but not for everyone's greed."

(02:37):
Those same neighbors wouldn't complain if their own house was on fire and all the water
was being directed to them.
If that example is too hypothetical, imagine going to the emergency room with
a sore thumb, and after 30 minutes of waiting, someone comes in with a
bone protruding from their bleeding foot.
Doctors prioritize patients based on the urgency of their need,

(03:00):
not on a first-come, first-served basis.
Do you think that is unfair?
What if you are the one with the severe injury? Does that change your answer?
Whenever I find myself thinking something is unfair, I urge myself to
think again using a wider lens that doesn't put me at the center of the universe.
Every time I write or speak about non-judgment, people immediately

(03:21):
argue with me that it's perfectly natural for us humans to judge. Well, I think
it's also "perfectly natural" to want to punch someone in the face after they hurt me, but
just because something feels natural on impulse doesn't mean it's the right thing to do
And when the Buddha spoke of right speech, right action, right livelihood, and so on,
wasn't that judgment?

(03:42):
Well, the Buddha taught about discernment, which is different from judgment.
The doctors in the emergency room, for example, they discern who to treat first
based on the severity of their injury.
They do not judge the patients based on skin color, age, religion, or anything else.
That would be judgment, not discernment.

(04:02):
Discernment requires a level of thoughtfulness, insight, and clarity,
while judgment is subjective, definitive, and easily influenced by personal biases.
The difference, once again, is the lens through which we look at the world, and the
invitation here is to Equally treat everyone with Equity, and to tame our impulse to judge.

(04:23):
It's why I always say Non-Judgment Day is Near, your participation is the
only thing that can make it possible with compassion, empathy, kindness, and equity.
We are all in this together. Namaste.
Timber Hawkeye is the bestselling author of Buddhist Boot Camp, Faithfully Religionless,

(04:43):
and The Opposite of Namaste.
For additional information, please visit BuddhistBootCamp.com,
where you can order autographed books to support the Prison Library Project,
watch Timber's inspiring TED Talk, and join our monthly mailing list.
We hope you have enjoyed this episode
and invite you to subscribe for more thought-provoking discussions.

(05:04):
Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love 🙏