The Golden Rule

Also known as the Ethic of Reciprocity, the Golden Rule is a fundamental moral code that lies at the center of each of the world’s religions, as well as non-theistic, secular beliefs, and other ethical systems. While religious groups have very different beliefs, traditions, and customs, as well as concepts of “God”, they all share the commonality that each person should treat others in the same manner that they in turn would like to be treated. This universal law of empathy and compassion can be found in passages from most of the world religion’s holy texts, or writings of their leaders.

In essence, the Golden Rule states that all humans are equally deserving of certain inherent human rights. Each an every one of us is beautifully unique in our own way. We may differ in size, shape, colour, gender, age, sexual orientation, language, culture, and spiritual belief, but we all belong to one human race and share one planet Earth. The Golden Rule celebrates the unique individuality of each person while upholding the equal importance of everyone, which entitles him or her to enjoy basic human rights.

With interfaith groups on the rise around the world, more and more of the world’s religions are beginning to embrace the Golden Rule and are taking steps towards building bridges of mutual understanding and respect. One individual in particular who is helping bring the Golden Rule back to the center of spiritual practice is religious historian Karen Armstrong. In February 2008, Karen Armstrong was awarded the $100,000 TED Prize and began drafting the Charter for Compassion with the help of a team of diverse religious leaders and over 150,000 online written contributions from the public in over 180 countries. The Charter for Compassion was unveiled to the world on November 12, 2009. The document outlines the common ground morality shared by people of spirituality, faith, and all of humanity.

The Golden Rule in words:

Bahá’í:

“Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not.” “Blessed is he who preferred his brother before himself.” Baha’u'llah

Brahmanism:

“This is the sum of Dharma [duty]: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you”. Mahabharata, 5:1517 “

Buddhism:

“Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” Udana-Varga 5:18

Christianity:

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12, King James Version.

Confucianism:

“Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you” 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

Humanism:

“(5) Humanists acknowledge human interdependence, the need for mutual respect and the kinship of all humanity.“

Islam:

“None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” Number 13 of Imam “Al-Nawawi’s Forty Hadiths.”

Jainism:

“In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self.” Lord Mahavira, 24th Tirthankara

Judaism:

“What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary.” Talmud, Shabbat 31a.

Native American Spirituality:

“All things are our relatives; what we do to everything, we do to ourselves. All is really One.” Black Elk

Roman Pagan Religion:

“The law imprinted on the hearts of all men is to love the members of society as themselves.”

Shinto:

“The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form“

Sikhism:

“No one is my enemy, none a stranger and everyone is my friend.” Guru Arjan Dev : AG 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.

Unitarian Universalism:

“We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.” Unitarian principles.

Zoroastrianism:

“Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others.“ Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29