The Golden Rule - The Ethic of Reciprocity

The Golden Rule - The Ethic of Reciprocity

[source: Hubpages-Food for the Soul]

"Every religion emphasizes human improvement, love, respect for others, sharing other people's suffering. On these lines every religion had more or less the same viewpoint and the same goal." The Dalai Lama

While religions and religious groups may vary in their practices and beliefs, the Golden Rule, also known as the Ethic of Reciprocity, is routinely a part of their philosophies and beliefs. It is considered by some to be the most consistent, moral teaching throughout history. While the most commonly known version is Christianity's Golden Rule, routinely stated as "Do onto others as you would have them do onto you," the concept that one should treat others with fairness and respect has been expressed many different ways:

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"

And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself." -- Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

Buddhism

"Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." -- Udana-Varga 5.18

Christianity

"All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." -- Matthew 7:1

Confucianism

"Surely it is the maxim of loving-kindness: Do not unto others that you would not have them do unto you." -- Analects 12:2

Hinduism

"This is the sum of duty: do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you." -- Mahabharata 5:1517

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

"One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated." -- Mahavira, Sutrakritanga 1.11.33

Judaism

"What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. That is the law: all the rest is commentary" -- Talmud, Shabbath 31a

Native American

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

"We are as much alive as we keep the earth alive." -- Chief Dan George

Sikhism

"I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to all." -- Guru Granth Sahib, p.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 213-218

Unitarianism

"We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." -- Unitarian principle

Wiccan

"An it harm none, do what ye will." -- Wiccan Rede

Zoroastrianism

"Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself. -- Shayast-na-Shayast 13.29

Please remember as you go about your day, and interact with others, to treat them as you wish to be treated.

"No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted." (Aesop)