The Golden Rule
- Nov 7, 2016
- 6 min read
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." -Matthew 7:12., The Golden Rule. It is simple, it is to the point and it is the most highly disregarded rule in modern history . From every faith to every culture, some version of this rule applies.
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
-Matthew 7:12
A great many prophets have transcribed and translated many versions of this Golden Rule. Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, even Confucianism. The list goes on. In it's rawest form. It is simple and easy to understand. There is no reading between the lines. There is no argument. Treat others the way you, yourself want to be treated.
Bahá'í Faith (According to the Bahá'í Faith's teachings, the human purpose is to learn to know and to love God through such methods as prayer, reflection, and being of service to humanity. The Bahá'í Faith was founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia.)
"Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not." "Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself." Baha'u'llah
"And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself." Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
Brahmanism (the complex sacrificial religion that emerged in post-Vedic India ( circa 900 BC) under the influence of the dominant priesthood (Brahmans), an early stage in the development of Hinduism)
"This is the sum of Dharma [duty]: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you". Mahabharata, 5:1517 "
Buddhism (is a religion and dharma that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. Buddhism originated in India, from where it spread through much of Asia, whereafter it declined in India during the middle ages.)
"...a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?" Samyutta NIkaya v. 353
Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18
"All men tremble at the rod, all men fear death: Putting oneself in the place of others, kill not nor cause to kill. All men tremble at the rod, unto all men life is dear; Doing as one would be done by, kill not nor cause to kill."
"One should seek for others the happiness one desires for oneself."
Christianity: (is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It has over 2.4 billion followers, or 33% of the global population, known as Christians)
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12, King James Version.
"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Luke 6:31, King James Version.
...and don't do what you hate...", Gospel of Thomas 6. The Gospel of Thomas is one of about 40 gospels that circulated among the early Christian movement, but which never made it into the Christian Scriptures (New Testament).
Confucianism: (a system of philosophical and ethical teachings founded by Confucius and developed by Mencius.)
He appears to have been the first person to record the Golden Rule in its negative form. This is sometimes referred to as the "Silver Rule."
Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you" Doctrine of the Mean
“What I do not wish men to do to me, I also wish not to do to men." Analects 15:23
What a man dislikes in those who are over him, let him not display toward those who are under him; what he dislikes in those who are under him, let him not display toward those who are over him! This is called the standard, by which, as a measuring square, to regulate one’s conduct. 6
"Tse-kung asked, 'Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct for life?' Confucius replied, 'It is the word 'shu' -- reciprocity. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.'" Doctrine of the Mean 13.3
He also expressed the Golden Rule in its positive form:
"Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence." Mencius VII.A.4
"There are four things in the moral life of man, not one of which I have been able to carry out in my life. To serve my father as I would expect my son to serve me: that I have not been able to do. To serve my sovereign as I would expect a minister under me to serve me: that I have not been able to do. To act towards my elder brother, as I would expect my younger brother to act towards me: that I have not been able to do. To be the first to behave toward friends as I would expect them to behave towards me: that I have not been able to do. 6
Ancient Egyptian:
"Do for one who may do for you, that you may cause him thus to do." The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant, 109 - 110 Translated by R.B. Parkinson. The original dates to circa 1800 BCE and may be the earliest version of the Epic of Reciprocity ever written.
Hinduism: (From a Western lexical standpoint, Hinduism like other faiths is appropriately referred to as a religion. In India the term dharma is preferred, which is broader than the western term religion. Hindu traditionalists prefer to call it Sanatana Dharma (the eternal or ancient dharma)).
"This is the sum of duty: do not do to others
what would cause pain if done to you."
Mahabharata 5:1517
The religion of the Incas: (The Incas believed that the god Viracocha created the earth, stars, and all living things.They believed that he created the moon and the sun by plucking them from an island in Lake Titicaca. Inti, the god of sun was another important god.)
"Do not to another what you would
not yourself experience."
Manco Capoc, founder of the empire of Peru
Islam: (is a Abrahamic monotheistic religion that upholds that God is one and incomparable and that the purpose of existence is to worship God. Muslims consider Muhammad to be the last prophet of God.)
"None of you [truly] believes until
he wishes for his brother
what he wishes for himself."
Number 13 of Imam "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths."
Jainism: (an ancient religion from India that teaches that the way to liberation and bliss is to live a life of harmlessness and renunciation. The aim of Jain life is to achieve liberation of the soul.)
"Therefore, neither does he [a sage] cause violence to others nor does he make others do so." Acarangasutra 5.101-2.
"In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self." Lord Mahavira, 24th Tirthankara
A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated. "Sutrakritanga 1.11.33
Judaism: (an ancient monotheistic religion, with the Torah as its foundational text (part of the larger text known as the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible), and supplemental oral tradition represented by later texts such as the Midrash and the Talmud.)
"...thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.", Hebrew Scriptures (a.k.a. Old Testament) Leviticus 19:18
"What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary." Talmud, Shabbat 31a.
"And what you hate, do not do to any one." Tobit 4:15 4
Native American Spirituality:
"Respect for all life is the foundation." The Great Law of Peace.
"All things are our relatives; what we do to everything, we do to ourselves. All is really One." Black Elk
"Do not wrong or hate your neighbor. For it is not he who you wrong, but yourself." Pima proverb.
Roman Pagan Religion: Religio Romana is a modern-day Neo-pagan religion based on the religion of ancient Rome:
"The law imprinted on the hearts of all men is to love the members of society as themselves."
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At the end of the day, anyway you slice it or dice it, the same Golden Rule has circulated through ALL religions, and cultures. When practiced daily you will be amazed at how the world around you changes. Treat others the same way you want to be treated. If you are having a hard time treating people nicely, chances are you do not have a very good relationship with yourself. Heal yourself, heal the world. Be the change you want to see in the world. It all starts with you, from within!
Be well brothers and sisters. Practice using the Golden Rule in every part of your day.
Namaste
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