By 
There may have been a lot of things that you got away with as a kid. But now you know better, we hope. If you are like most people, you live your life in alignment with society’s expectations, but is everything you do really for your own good?
Laws, regulations, rules and more rules. But are they all legitimate from the point of view of karma, freedom, and personal responsibility?
In your spiritual quest, you may have asked yourself, “What is acceptable behavior in a karmic sense? What will not earn me negative karma?”
Our findings across more than 25 years of empirical research on the topic tell us that it’s primarily about making sure you don’t intentionally hurt anyone, not yourself.
Morality is frequently subjective; be wary of conventional wisdom that implies “right and wrong.” We believe that you will never be punished in the afterlife for many behaviors that are considered wicked in today’s world.
Here are seven things that are frowned upon in many societies, but will not cause you to incur any negative karma.
1. Break up with someone: in other words, leave him. As long as you don’t try to damage them in the process, you are hassle free. If it’s over for you, the best thing you can do is leave in peace. By the way, sticking around when it’s over and not releasing them so they can find someone more compatible could lead to negative karma.
2. The act of divorce. Yes, you promised to be with him or her forever, but feelings change, as do people. An ex who shuffles and makes it very difficult, out of spite, for the one who wants to leave, however, will incur negative karma.
3. Prostitution between two consenting adults. What about a sex worker (or non-sex worker) who has sex with hundreds, even thousands of people? Isn’t it an ethical offense? No, only if you have the wrong impression that sex is bad or dirty, and in terms of karma, it is not.
Sleeping with more than one person will result in no negative karma being collected, as long as you are not cheating or hurting anyone. In fact, due to the healing benefits of sex, you may even earn positive karma, especially if you are good in bed. Sex between two consenting adults, regardless of whether one (or both) is paid, as with marital prostitution, is nobody’s business but theirs.
Conspicuous prudery, arising out of warped morality and corrupt religiosity, is the fundamental source of many current laws relating to sex and intimate relationships. Interestingly, those who impose their personal subjective morality on others, through laws that steal personal freedoms, incur negative karma.
4. Live together before marriage. Another forbidden act on a religious basis, but with no negative karma related to it.
5. Having children outside of marriage. Absolutely no bad karma acquired here, as long as you don’t neglect your responsibilities.
6. Have an open relationship or marriage. Yes, even if you have 100 lovers at the same time, as long as you are honest about it and have not made false promises or intentionally hurt anyone, you are free. Just act responsibly, including safe sex.
7. Homosexuality. Interpret ancient religious texts as you wish, but consensual sex between two people of the same gender will not incur negative karma at all.
It is best to avoid illegal behavior, but you will save yourself the guilt if you live your life according to your understanding of the law of karma rather than the restrictive code of conduct imposed on you by the morality squad.
Copyright © Scott Petullo, Stephen Petullo