A philosophical framework acknowledging that we inherit life itself as a debt to ancestors, creating corresponding obligations to future generations.
Rabia understood absolute poverty before the Divine—recognition that we own nothing and owe everything to God's grace. The Debt of Existence applies this spiritual humility to intergenerational relationships. We did not create ourselves; we are born into lineages stretching back centuries, inheriting not just genes but languages, lands, stories, struggles, and survival strategies. This inheritance is a profound debt. African ubuntu explicitly names this: I am because my ancestors are. This debt cannot be repaid to those who came before, but it redirects forward: we discharge our ancestral debt by honoring them through how we live, and by creating conditions where future generations can thrive and repay their debt through us. This framework prevents both entitlement and despair, instead fostering gratitude, responsibility, and purposeful action across generations.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
Explore related journeys or tell Peri what you're working through.