Reciprocity (Spirituality for Beginners 12)

Lord Rees, Astronomer Royal

It was wonderful for me recently to meet and speak with Professor, Sir Martin Rees (now Lord Rees of Ludlow), the British Astronomer Royal. In his 1999 book, Just Six Numbers, this leading scientist expressed admiration for the precision, intelligence and intelligibility of the universe.

I am also happy to say he agreed with me that the universe could be described as having a spiritual nature. The basis for this interpretation involves a kind of dynamic and seamless inter-connectedness of everything with everything else.

This includes people. With the benefit of holistic vision and insight, it becomes clear that everyone is similarly connected through the spiritual dimension with everything and everyone else. The usual rules of space and time are transcended as spiritual time (Kairos) operates rather than clock time (Chronos).

In an intelligent and ultimately benevolent universe, certain rules or principles can be said to apply. One of these is the principle of ‘Reciprocity’.

“What goes around, comes around!” Through our spiritual inter-connectedness, everything and everyone affects, and is affected by, everything and everyone else. The effects may be tiny, and often cancel each other out; nevertheless, this phenomenon is at the heart of human morality.

Reciprocity acts as the basis for what we may call ‘spiritual’ values. As Saint Paul put it, “That which you sow, so shall you reap." The principle of reciprocity is similarly the basis of the ‘Golden Rule’ of conduct, to “Do as you would be done by." It also underpins the tradition of ‘Karma’ (also known as ‘the law of cause and effect’) to be found in the teachings of ancient religions from the East.

Reciprocity means that if our intentions, speech and actions benefit even one other person, we too will reap benefit. Conversely, in the great scheme of things, if we intend, speak against, threaten or commit injury to another, harm will fall upon us and on those with whom we associate, our kin and kind.

It is much too simple, and rarely the whole story, to say that if adversity befalls you, it is some kind of payback for your earlier misdeeds. Buddhist teachers say that no-one can avoid losses and other forms of suffering. Sickness, ageing and the prospect of death, for example, threaten everybody. They say that a measure of misfortune is a good thing: only through adversity, when we learn how to face it wisely, can we grow to become more emotionally — and spiritually — mature.

Reciprocity underpins human morality, and is also the basis of justice. Although it is often transgressed in human society, justice is unfailing at the greater, cosmic level. For many who have faith in it, this is a great source of hope and justification.

There is much scope for further speculation — and myth-making — about how reciprocity, human morality and spiritual justice work at the everyday level of human lives. The basic sciences do not say much about it, but there are strong clues to be had from personal and social psychology, the psychology of attachment and loss, of healing and personal growth, as we shall see in future instalments.

Copyright Larry Culliford

Larry’s books include ‘The Psychology of Spirituality’, ‘Love, Healing & Happiness’ and (as Patrick Whiteside) ‘The Little Book of Happiness’ and ‘Happiness: The 30 Day Guide’ (personally endorsed by HH The Dalai Lama).