As our nation progresses toward an election there is one life principle that can serve as a guidepost to end the divisiveness that we share at this point in our nation’s history. This principle can be found in virtually all the major religious Holy Books and philosophies of the world. It is called the Golden Rule and it instructs us to treat the other person as you would wish to be treated. Here it is in some of its various forms:
Baha’i – 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 – Do not offend others as you would not want to be offended. Udana-Varga 5:18
Christianity – In everything, do unto others what you would have them do to you. For this sums up the law and the prophets. Jesus: The Bible, Luke 6:31
Confucianism – Tzu-kung asked, “Is there one word which can serve as the guiding principle for conduct throughout life?” Confucius said, “It is the word altruism (shu). Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you.” Analects 15:23
Hare Krishna – “One who sees the nature of the Supreme Lord in all living beings and who sees all beings in the Lord, and the Lord as the Self, is on the highest level of devotion, a bhagavatottama.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.45)
Hinduism – This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you. Mahabharafa 5:1517
Islam – None of you are true believers until you love for your brother what you love for yourself. Muhammad: The Sunnah (from the Hadith)
Jainism – One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated. Satrakritanga 1:11-3.33
Judaism – What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary. The Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 31a
Native American – We are as much alive as we keep the Earth alive. Chief Dan George
Scientology – Two rules for happy living. 1. Be able to experience anything. 2. Cause only those things which others are able to experience easily. Scientology A New Slant on Life – L. Ron Hubbard
Sikhism – I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to all. Guru Arjan Devji, Siri Guru Granth Sahib Devji
Secular – If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else. Booker T. Washington
Taoism – Regard your neighbor’s gain as your own gain and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss. Tao Te Ching
Family Federation for World Peace and Unification – “Living for the sake of others.” Rev. Sun Myung Moon
Zoroastrianism – Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself. Shayast-na-Shayast 13:28
It is the sincere desire of the Arizona Interfaith Movement that the message of the Golden Rule will govern all our actions during these coming days and that it will continue to guide our lives as a nation as we engage with one another in the future.
