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THE GOLDEN RULE:
A UNIVERSAL GUIDE FOR ENLIGHTENED BEHAVIOR
The Golden Rule is perhaps the oldest ethical
proposition of distinctly universal character. This ethic of reciprocity is found in
the Scriptures of nearly all religions. It is widely regarded as the most concise
and general principle of ethics. It is, for me, also a demonstration the unity of
sacred traditions with regard to their views of human nature. I have compiled these
variants of the Golden Rule from secondary sources, and would welcome additional examples
and more specific references from readers.
African Traditional Religions
One going to take a pointed stick to pinch
a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts.
- Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria)
Bah'ai
Lay not on any soul a load which ye would not
wish to be laid upon you and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for
yourself.- Baha'u'llah, Nineteenth Century A.D.
Buddhism
Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would
find hurtful. - Udana-Varga, 5:18, Sixth Century B.C.
Christianity
Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,
do ye even so to them. - Jesus Christ, First Century A.D. (Matthew
7:12; see also Luke 6:31)
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
- Jesus Christ (Matthew 22:39)
Classical Paganism
May I do to others as I would they should do
unto me. - Plato, Fourth Century B.C.
Confucianism
Tsekung 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 unto others what you would not have them do to
you". - Analects, 15:23, Sixth Century B.C.
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.
Hinduism
Do naught unto others which would cause you pain
if done to you. - Mahabharata 5:1517, Third Century B.C.
One should not behave toward others in a way
which is disagreeable to oneself. This is the essence of morality. All other
activities are due to selfish desire. - Mahabharata, Anusasana
Parva 113.8
Islam
No one of you is a believer until he desires for
his brother what he desires for himself. - Muhammad, Sixth
Century A.D., Sunnab
Jainism
In happiness and
suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self, and
should therefore refrain from inflicting upon others such injury as would appear
undesirable to us if inflicted upon ourselves. - Lord Mahavir, Fifth
Century, B.C., 24th Tirthankara
A man should wander around treating all
creatures as he himself would be treated. - Sutrakritanga 1.11.33
Judaism
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
- The Torah (Leviticus 19:18)
What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow
man; that is the whole Torah; all the rest of it is commentary; go and learn.
- Rabbi Hillel, First Century A.D. citing Talmud, Shabbat 31a
Native American
Do not condemn your brother until you have
walked a mile in his moccasins. -
[Source, date?]
Sikhism
Treat others as thou wouldst be treated thyself.
- [Guru Nanak?], Sixteenth
Century A.D.
Don't create enmity with anyone
as God is within everyone. - Guru Arjan Devji 259, Guru Granth
Sahib
Taoism
Regard your neighbor's gain as your own
gain and regard your neighbor's loss as your own loss. -[Source, date?]
Zoroastrianism
Do not do unto others all that which is not well
for oneself. - Dadistan-i-Dinik, 94:5, Fifth Century B.C.
PEOPLE IN THE SECULAR WORLD HAVE DISCOVERED THE SAME GREAT TRUTH
He that does good to another does good also to
himself, not only in the consequence but in the very act. For the consciousness of
well-doing is in itself ample reward. - Seneca [First Century A.D.]
The duty of man.is plain and simple, and
consists of but two points-his duty to God, which every man must feel; and, with respect
to his neighbor, to do as he would be done by. - Thomas Paine
It is one of the most beautiful compensations of
this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
| The author, John White, compiled these variants of The Golden Rule from secondary sources, and would welcome additional examples and more specific references from readers. He may be reached at jwhite8011@aol.com |
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