Dr. Jay Forrest

Karma is intentional actions with moral consequences. All actions have physical consequences, because the law of causality states that every effect has a cause and every cause has an effect.

Something similar operates in the moral realm. It is called the law of karma: what goes around comes around; what a person sows, so will they reap. Reincarnation says that if you do not reap it in this life, you will reap it in another. You do not get away with anything.

Now it is important to understand that we are not punished for our sins; we are punished by them. We plant the seed and reap the result. Justice is built into the structure of the cosmos. There is no need for a future judgment in some celestial afterlife.

Moral consequences for our moral actions are the only way we will learn to be morally responsible. The point is not to punish us, but to reform us. It is an educational system built into the very fabric of the universe, and the lessons will be repeated until they are learned.

Unfortunately, we live in a time when empathy is often criticized. But empathy is a gift. It allows us to understand others and their suffering, and it is vital for human life.

Yet empathy alone is not sufficient. It must be guided by wisdom. Empathy moves us to feel with others, to share in their pain, and to help however we can. But this is not always the right response.

Some people contribute to their own misfortune, whether through poor choices or neglect. In such cases, helping may actually hinder growth. What feels compassionate in the moment may reinforce harmful patterns.

Wisdom discerns when to help and when to refrain. Sometimes the most helpful response is not immediate relief, but allowing a person to face consequences, learn, and become responsible.

Empathy feels; wisdom sees. Both are necessary. Without empathy, we become cold. Without wisdom, we become ineffective.

Regret often shows up as a desire for a do-over. We replay the past: “I should have done this,” “If I knew then what I know now, things would be different.” These “could have, would have, should have” scenarios can run endlessly.

Sometimes there is real regret; sometimes just a wish to have acted differently. Either way, the mind stays stuck in what cannot be changed.
The Stoics offer a clear response: the past is not under our control, so we must let it go. Replaying alternate outcomes does not undo anything. It only keeps us from moving forward.

We can still learn from the past. A mistake can yield a principle. For example, when faced with choices, choose the path that does the most good. But learning is not the same as dwelling on the past.

If thoughts of “what could have been” arise, remind yourself: the past is not under my control. What matters is what I do now. We move forward by focusing on our present beliefs, actions, and attitudes. Life is not behind us. It is happening now. Be here now.

Socrates, who lived in Athens from 470 to 399 BCE, is often regarded as the founder of Western philosophy and the first moral philosopher. But his life looked nothing like that of a modern academic.

He had no degree. He learned his father’s trade as a stone worker, served in the military, and lived simply. In his spare time, he questioned others, testing their claims to wisdom. In doing so, he exposed their ignorance, which ultimately led to his trial and execution.

He was also indifferent to appearance and comfort. By most accounts, he lived plainly, even neglecting basic concerns like clothing and hygiene.

If we take Socrates seriously as a model, the challenge is uncomfortable. Philosophy, for him, was not a career but a way of life, a relentless pursuit of truth that risked reputation and security.

Today, philosophy is often professionalized, confined to institutions, and treated as abstract or impractical. Socrates suggests something far more demanding.

Do we actually want to follow his example, or only admire it from a distance?

Before offering guidance, we must define what a philosopher is. Today, the word refers to at least two kinds of people: academic professors and lovers of wisdom.

Only recently have lovers of wisdom begun reclaiming the title. In academic settings, philosophy has often become abstract, technical, and detached from life. It was not always so. Philosophy once meant a lived pursuit, a disciplined search for wisdom and the good life.

Some institutions claim that becoming a philosopher requires formal degrees. But if that were true, Socrates, Confucius, and the Buddha would not qualify. Such credentials may be required for teaching, but not for philosophy itself.

The essential requirement is simpler: to pursue wisdom and the good life through reason, observation, and deep reflection.

You may call yourself a philosopher, though academia may not accept it. But philosophy is not about recognition. It is about learning how to live well.

Many academic philosophers study and teach the ideas of others. That has value, but it is not the same as the original pursuit.

The title is not the point. The pursuit is.

Some early interpretations of Christianity included the idea of reincarnation. Certain passages in the New Testament have been read in this light. For example, Jesus identifies John the Baptist with Elijah (Matthew 11:13–14; 17:10–13), which some take to imply a return or reappearance of a previous figure.

This idea may have been part of a broader cultural context. When Jesus asks who people think he is, the disciples reply that some believe he is John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or another prophet (Matthew 16:14). Since these figures had long been dead, this suggests that some people entertained the possibility of their return.

While later orthodox Christianity rejected reincarnation, it persisted in some early movements. Certain Gnostic groups retained similar ideas, and the early theologian Origen spoke of the soul’s preexistence and its development across different conditions of life.

Over time, these views were set aside in favor of a different theological framework. Even so, they remain part of the historical landscape of early Christian thought.