Timeless teachings - 'The Golden Rule'

The Golden Rule has come up in a few conversations I have had recently and I certainly think that in today's strife torn world, the message inherent in the Rule is just as relevant now - possibly even more so, than when some of the earliest examples were written, approximately 2000 years ago. 

Certainly the world we collectively share would be a very different one if we all treated each other with the same dignity, respect and kindness that we want for ourselves and our loved ones. That in fact is the message of The Golden Rule - treat others as you wish to be treated yourself.   

It is a timeless message that has served humanity through the ages. Wise teachers, mystics and masters, sages, saints and prophets have all reiterated these words - expressed each time in a different way, with different sentiments, but always containing the same universal message.

Regardless of our circumstances, our race, culture, religion and beliefs, we all want the same thing; peace, compassion, love and kindness; that the human heart is the font of all goodness - our purpose is to realise that, to see ourselves reflected in each other, and in doing so, transcend our differences.

‘You shall not take vengeance, or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself’ - Judaism (1400 BC)

'We should regard all creatures as we regard our own self’ - Jainism (800 BC)

'I will be as careful for you as I should be for myself in the same need' - Ancient Greece (700 BC)

‘That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself’ - Zoroastrianism (600 BC)

'Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful’ - Buddhism (500 BC)

‘Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss’ - Taoism (500 BC)

‘Do not do to others what you would not want others to do to you’ - Confucianism (500 BC)

'Do naught unto others (that) which would cause you pain if done to you’ - Hinduism (300 BC)

‘So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them’ - Christianity (30 AD)

‘None of you believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself’ - Islam (600 AD)

‘As you deem yourself, deem others as well; only then will you become a partner in heaven’ - Sikhism (1600)

‘Oh, do as you would be done by. And do unto all men as you would have them do unto you, for this is but the law and the prophet’ - Quakerism (1650)

‘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’ - Bahá'í (1844)

Image sourced freedigitalphotos.net

You might also like 'Charter of Compassion' in June archives