I tend to believe that when things remain consistent across various cultures and belief systems, that these things must possess vital importance. One such thing is the "Golden Rule." The golden rule is an integral part of 8 of the world's largest religions:
Christianity All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.Matthew 7:1
Confucianism Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. Then there will be no resentment against you, either in the family or in the state. Analects 12:2
Buddhism Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. Udana-Varg 5,1
Hinduism This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you. Mahabharata 5,1517
Islam No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. Sunnah
Judaism What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman. This is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary. Talmud, Shabbat 3id
Taoism Regard your neighbor’s gain as your gain, and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss.
Tai Shang Kan Yin P’ien
Zoroastrianism That nature alone is good which refrains from doing another whatsoever is not good for itself. Dadisten-I-dinik, 94,5
Adapted from "The Christopher Newsletter"
Not only is the rule and important part of the lives of the religious, it is also a crucial part of the moral code for our non religious friends. The question I submit today is a simple one: are you doing this as well as you could? Do you truly treat everyone the way that want to be treated?
I fail at this, we all do. But I want to be better! I want to slow down and take the extra moments needed to ask myself, is this what I would want? Would I want to be gossiped about? Or would I want to be understood, loved and accepted unconditionally?
Sometimes, I look back on my life, and I have so many regrets where I have been a person who I don't like. Often I wish for do-overs that never come. I have hurt many people and been someone that has absolutely no business being a role model to anyone. I do not want to be that peson ever again.
I want to live a life free of regrets. I don't want to look back and hate the person I was or how I treated someone. I want to be someone that my daughter and students can look up too. Yes, there are things I need to change for that to happen.
What about you? How can you truly embrace the golden rule? Do you need to slow down on your responses or rethink your conversations? Do you need to get out of your comfort zone and reach out more to those you know are struggling? Perhaps by taking one day at a time, one moment at a time, we can all grow to become the people that we would want our children and loved ones to be proud of.
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