THE GOLDEN RULE IN OUR WORLD’S RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS

Listed below are a number of statements from different religious traditions. Their similarity is striking.  They are all based on a profound understanding or intuition of the fundamental nature of reality.  That there is only One, and the multiplicity that we experience is the myriad expressions of that One.  This is the basis for a morality, an ethics that can heal our planet.  In our fundamental nature, we are all One.  The reason we experience a multiplicity is due to our constricted state of consciousness.  The purposes of spiritual practices are to eliminate limiting identifications and expand consciousness so that it becomes one with God.  Then the illusion of multiplicity vanishes and One is established.  We thus complete the journey from bondage to freedom, from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light and from mortality to immortality.


ABRAHAMIC TRADITIONS
    
    Judaism:  What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.  This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary. Hillel, Talmud, Shabbat 31a
    
    Christianity:  In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. Jesus, Matthew 7:12
    
    Islam:  Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself. The Prophet Muhammad, Hadith


Baha’i Faith: Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself. Baha’u’llah, Gleanings

Buddhism: Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. Udana-Varga, 5.8

Confucianism: One word, which sums up the basis of all good conduct… loving-kindness. Do not do to others what you so not want done to yourself. Confucius, Analects 15:23

Hinduism: This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you. Mahabharata, 5:1517

Jainism: One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated. Mahavira, Sutrakritanga

Native Spirituality: All things are our relatives, what we do to everything we do to ourselves. All is really one. Black Elk

Sikhism: I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to all. Guru Granth Sahib. Pg 1299

Taoism: Regard your neighbor’s gain as your own gain, and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss. T’ai Shang Kan Ying P’ien, 213-218

Unitarianism: We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. Unitarian Principle

Zoroastrianism: Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself. Shayasr-na-Shayast 13:29