"Men at some time are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings."
William Shakespeare
Hey there, my friend!
Have you ever experienced bad luck that left you feeling bewildered and frustrated?
It's like it comes out of nowhere, turning what should be a successful life into one filled with unfortunate events. And the worst part is that the cause of bad luck is often hidden, leaving you wondering if there's some force guiding your life towards tragedy.
Is bad luck a matter of fate, or do we have control over these unfortunate events?
The belief in Fate or Destiny has existed for ages, arising from the observation of life's seemingly inevitable occurrences and the desire to make sense of the unpredictable nature of our existence–good or bad. It is the idea that there is a predetermined path for each individual, that certain events are meant to happen regardless of our actions. This notion has led to the long-standing debate between Fatalism and free will.
On the other side of the spectrum, the concept of free will champions the idea that humans have the power to shape their own destinies through their choices and actions. Proponents of free will argue that we have the ability to overcome the odds, break free from the chains of destiny, and carve our own paths in life.
So, which is it? Fate or free will?
Is there such a thing as cause-effect, or is everything that happens to you a matter of blind Fate, where some people are lucky, and others have to be content with always being unlucky?
In this article, we'll explore this enigma in more detail and discuss if there is a way to take control of your life, even in the face of adversity. (Hint: There is a way.)
Let’s explore how this works in more detail.
1. The Principle of Moral Reciprocity: What You Sow, You Reap
The principle of Moral Reciprocity is a fundamental concept in moral causation, embodying the idea that our actions and decisions have consequences that shape our destiny.
At its core, Moral Reciprocity is the law of cause and effect as it applies to our ethical conduct. The concept is often summarized with the saying, "What you sow, you reap," which highlights the idea that our actions, whether good or bad, ultimately come back to us, often multiplied.
Moral Reciprocity operates on the belief that the life energy we put forth through our actions and intentions affects not only others but also ourselves.
In essence, we create our own circumstances through the deeds we do to others. By treating others with kindness and compassion, we are likely to experience kindness and compassion in our own lives. Conversely, if we act with malice or indifference, we may find ourselves facing malice and indifference too.
Sowing and reaping can be seen in everyday life through various examples.
For instance, imagine a person who consistently lends a helping hand to their friends, family, and even strangers. Over time, the positive energy generated by these acts of kindness is likely to return to them in various forms, such as receiving support when they are in need or experiencing an unexpected windfall. On the other hand, a person who consistently mistreats others may find themselves isolated, facing hardships and mistreatment—multiplied.
This balance between free will and fate is this: We freely choose our actions, but once we have committed an action, we are bound to reap the consequences of that action. In other words, Fate is the natural consequence of the actions we have sown.
By understanding the law of Moral Reciprocity and the principles of sowing and reaping, we can consciously choose to cultivate positive actions, which in turn will lead to more fulfilling and harmonious life circumstances.
Further, the idea of creating our own circumstances through our actions emphasises the importance of individual responsibility and the power we hold in shaping our own lives.
2. The Concept of Moral Debt
Moral Debt can be understood as the moral balance sheet of our lives, reflecting the consequences we are bound to face as a result of our past actions.
To grasp the concept of Moral Debt, envision the Bank of Morality, where our ethical transactions are recorded and monitored. Just as we accrue financial debt by borrowing from a bank, we accumulate Moral Debt through our negative actions and decisions.
In this analogy, good deeds act as deposits, while negative actions are withdrawals.
Just as a bank account can become overdrawn if we consistently take out more than we put in, our Moral Debt can become unbalanced if we engage in repeated patterns of harmful behaviour. To ensure a better destiny, we must strive to increase our good deeds, thereby making positive "deposits" into our moral account, ultimately working towards a favourable balance.
Let me give you an example.
Imagine John, who frequently borrowed money from friends without repaying them. Over time, John's actions created a Moral Debt as he continued to take advantage of others' goodwill. Eventually, John experienced a series of financial setbacks, including losing his job and facing mounting expenses. In this situation, the consequences of his past actions had come back to him, and he found himself in need of the very help he had taken for granted.
Recognizing the weight of his Moral Debt, John took steps to rectify his past behaviour.
He worked diligently to repay his debts and made a conscious effort to help others in need. Life did not improve at first as he had to pay off his Moral Debts. But John continued to make positive "deposits" into the Bank of Morality, after a season he began to notice improvements in his life. His Moral Debt was fully repaid, and his life was back to a positive moral balance.
The concept of Moral Debt emphasizes the importance of understanding the relationship between deeds and destiny.
Which is: deeds create destiny
Note: The wheel of Moral Reciprocity often turns slowly. This is because of grace, if Moral Reciprocity operated too quickly it could be dangerous and destructive for a person. That is why it seems like some people get away with evil. They never do, they are merely in a period of grace, or pay their debts in a different area of their life. For instance, wealthy people who do evil may have family problems or serious health issues, but their cash is unaffected.
3. Bad Luck: Your Outstanding Moral Debts
One of the primary causes of bad luck in our lives can often be attributed to outstanding Moral Debts.
When we face seemingly inexplicable misfortunes or a string of negative events, it is essential to reflect upon our past actions and consider the possibility that these problems could be the consequences of unpaid Moral Debts.
For example...,
Let's consider the story of Emily, who, despite her hard work and dedication, consistently faced bad luck in her professional life. She was often overlooked for promotions and experienced a series of setbacks that hindered her career growth. Feeling frustrated and discouraged, Emily began to question why she was experiencing such persistent bad luck.
Upon reflection, Emily realised that earlier in her life, she had a habit of undermining her colleagues, driven by her ambition and desire for success. She often took credit for others' work and spread rumours to tarnish their reputations, actions that had negative consequences for those around her.
Unbeknownst to Emily, her past behaviour had created a Moral Debt that was now manifesting in the form of bad luck in her professional life.
Acknowledging the connection between her past actions and her present misfortunes, Emily committed to rectifying her Moral Debt.
She started by apologising to her former colleagues and made a conscious effort to uplift and support her current co-workers. She then deliberately engaged in many good deeds, helping other people with their careers, mentoring and guiding the young and paying for the studies of students. At first here luck did not improve, as she had to pay her Moral Debts, but after a season, Emily's luck began to change, and her career stated to improve, in fact it took off like a rocket ship. She eventually received the promotion she had been striving for, but it did not stop there. Within a year she made partner at her consulting firm.
In this example, Emily's outstanding Moral Debts were the primary cause of her bad luck.
By recognising her past negative actions, and replacing them with new positive actions, she was able to change her circumstances and improve her destiny.
The key takeaway is that acknowledging the impact of Moral Debt on our lives can provide valuable insight into the causes of bad luck and guide us towards making the necessary changes to create a more fulfilling and positive life.
4. Ways to Pay Your Moral Debts: Forgiveness as a Moral Debt Settlement Plan
"Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strands we hold of others' guilt."
The Aramaic Lord’s Prayer (Prayer of Jesus)
What do you do if you find yourself in the midst of unrelenting bad luck and misery due to accumulated Moral Debt?
Well, there's one powerful settlement plan that can help you cancel out those debts and start anew: forgiveness.
Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.
Jesus the Christ (Marcionite Bible – The Gospel of the Lord Section I v37)
Let me share with you the story of Robert...,
Robert who was wronged by his close friend Michael.
Michael had betrayed Robert's trust by revealing sensitive information that led to Robert losing his job. Naturally, Robert felt hurt and angry, which led him to distance himself from Michael and harbour resentment.
But Robert realized that holding onto anger and seeking revenge would only lead to more negative consequences. Especially if he tried to get revenge. So instead, he chose to embrace forgiveness as an alternative to demanding that Michael get his just deserts.
Robert decided to forgive Michael.
In his mind he clearly formed the intent and thought, "No ill must come to Michael, even though he clearly deserves it. Michael must be forgiven of his Moral Debt. The matter is settled in full."
This was not easy for Robert as he FELT REALLY ANGRY!
However, he understood that there had been times in his life where he had done things that had angered others in similar ways. And that in effect his streak of bad luck and getting fired was part of his own Moral Debt repayment plan.
By forgiving Michael and blessing him, Robert sowed forgiveness and in sowing forgiveness of Michael’s debts, he ultimately reaped forgiveness of his own debts. Robert’s Moral Debt was now considered paid in full.
Shortly thereafter, Robert found a new job that was more aligned with his values and where he developed stronger relationships with those around him. Moreover, as he continued to forgive, Robert noticed that other unresolved issues from his past began to resolve themselves. Friends and family who had wronged him in the past reached out to apologise, and he was able to let go of the bitterness he had held on to for years.
The story of Robert highlights the importance of embracing forgiveness as a powerful alternative to repaying Moral Debt.
Not only were his debts paid, but he was also able to finally experience an environment of empathy, understanding, and unity, ultimately leading to his personal growth and healing.
5. Go and Sin No More: Stop Accumulating Moral Debts and Live by the Platinum Rule
To break free from the cycle of Moral Debts and the resultant cycle of repeating bad luck, it is essential to stop accumulating negative actions and their consequences. Personal and spiritual growth depends on our ability to change our behaviour and live in a way that prevents future suffering.
One powerful way to achieve this is by embracing the Platinum Rule:
The Platinum Rule:
"Do unto others as you would have Fate do unto you."
This rule goes beyond the familiar Golden Rule of treating others as we would like to be treated ourselves, as it takes into consideration the universal law of cause and effect. The Platinum Rule encourages us to be mindful of our actions and their potential consequences, both for others and via Moral Reciprocity for ourselves.
By living according to the Platinum Rule, we make a conscious effort to sow seeds of positivity, kindness, and understanding in our interactions with others.
This, in turn, helps us create a harmonious environment that attracts good luck and minimises the chance of accumulating more Moral Debt.
Furthermore, it fosters a sense of empathy and compassion within us, promoting our own personal growth while also enhancing the well-being of those around us.
Embracing this way of life, we actively work towards breaking the cycle of Moral Debt and creating a future filled with positive experiences. Ultimately, paving the way for a better, more fulfilling life—filled with good luck and prosperity.
6. Moral Intentionality: The Principle of Deliberately Doing Good to Bring Good into Your Life
"But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again;
and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest:
for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged:
condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned:
forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Give, and it shall be given unto you;
good measure, pressed down,
and shaken together, and running over,
shall men give into your bosom.
For with the same measure that ye mete
withal it shall be measured to you again."
Jesus the Christ (Marcionite Bible – The Gospel of the Lord Section I v35-38)
Moral Intentionality is the act of deliberately and continuously sowing good seeds with our actions.
When we do this good luck follows us around like our own shadow, and our life is filled with prosperity, peace, harmony, tranquillity and love.
Moral Intentionality is the highest spiritual principle, representing the perfection of the soul through the formation of a habit of doing good. As our character is essentially the sum total of our habits, the practice of Moral Intentionality ultimately leads to a noble and Godlike character.
When we practice good deeds every chance we get, making them a fundamental part of our lives, we slowly start to change. Becoming more and more virtuous, kind, loving and noble. Our good deeds become our good character.
And our good character perfects our soul. We reap both the rewards of inner peace and outer miracles.
This transformation not only uplifts our own lives but also positively impacts the lives of all those around us. It is the fundamental key to a new Golden Age for humanity.
If everyone lived with Moral Intentionality, what kind of a world would we have? It would literally be Heaven on Earth.
Take Action Today, Starting with One Good Deed
By appreciating the interplay of Fate and free will, and by understanding the operation of Moral Reciprocity, we have the power to both cultivate our virtue and transform our destiny.
The principles of Moral Reciprocity, Moral Debt, and Moral Intentionality, as well as the Platinum Rule, provide us with valuable insights into how we can take control of our lives and create a fulfilling existence in this life, and perhaps even the next life.
By acknowledging the impact of our actions on the lives of others and via Moral Reciprocity our own lives, we can realise that we need to take responsibility for our choices, make a conscious effort to improve our habits, and become pioneers in creating a more harmonious and prosperous society.
We all have the potential to positively impact the world around us by fostering a society rooted in Moral Intentionality and driven by kindness, empathy, compassion and love.
A world we all ultimately want to belong to.
So, act today my friend, all it takes to start is one good deed.
Let's create a world of Love, Light and Prosperity—together.
Destin
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References:
The concepts in this article were inspired by a combination of practical observation and the insights provided by the following sources:
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