GOLDEN RULE — A COMMON THEME ACROSS ALL RELIGIONS
Akhil Gupta, Founder UEF
I was taught the Golden Rule before I knew it by that name. Whenever I used to do mischievous things to my older sister as a young boy, my mother would pull me aside and ask me, “Would you like it if she did those things to you? No? Then don’t do them to her.” I found that logic to be very persuasive, even as a child, and in retrospect, it’s impressive how effective my mother was at modifying my behavior with such a simple concept. I was also taught to extend that principle to others, as my mother explained that God appears in different masks, even as beggars and other destitute people, to test you to see whether you were kind to every person you met or not.
For us as adults, the Golden Rule remains just as simple and powerful. Be kind to others. Think about how much joy you get in life when you are the subject of someone else’s kindness — imagine how great others would feel if you did the same for them. There is hardly any culture or religion that suggests otherwise. This Golden Rule is the conscious decision to always put yourself in the shoes of another before conducting yourself in a way that will have a direct effect upon that other.
Jesus, The Prophet Muhammad, and Confucius are just a few figures from across religions who famously articulated the Golden Rule in strikingly similar terms. But it is also a concept that appears in Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and just about every other religious and cultural system–a true human universal. In fact this simple rule is the foundation for all moral/ethical prescriptions
The Golden Rule has the power to address many of today’s social problems. By embracing this principle, we can foster compassion, empathy, and understanding among individuals and communities. In a world plagued by conflict and division, practicing the Golden Rule promotes tolerance and acceptance of diverse perspectives. It encourages us to listen to others without judgment and seek common ground. By treating each other with kindness and respect, we can bridge gaps and build a more inclusive society.
Insightful Quotes on Golden Rule
Christianity
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
–The New Testament (Matthew 7:12, NIV), Christian text
Islam
“The Prophet Muhammad said, ‘None of you [truly] believes until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself.”
— [Al-Bukhari], Hadith 13
Judaism
“That which is despicable to you, do not do to your fellow, this is the whole Torah, and the rest is commentary, go and learn it.”
–Hillel the Elder in The Babylonian Talmud
Baha’i
“Choose thou for thy neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself.”
–‘Baha’u’llah, Baha’i prophet
Hinduism
“One should not behave toward others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself.”
— Mahabharata (Anusasana Parva 113.8)
Buddhism
“Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.”
— Udanavarga (5:18), Buddhist text
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, Taoist text
Science
“…I have so lately endeavored to show that the social instincts — the prime principle of man’s moral constitution — with the aid of active intellectual powers and the effects of habit, naturally lead to the golden rule”
— Darwin — The Descent of Man
