THE GOLDEN RULE

THE GOLDEN RULE

The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as one’s own self. It is the practice of loving kindness, it is expressing human kinship.

The Golden Rule is also called the Ethics of Reciprocity. It is the most consistent, most prevalent and most universal ethical principle from ancient times. 

The Golden Rule possesses tremendous moral authority and reveals a profound unity underlying the diversity of human experience. 

Various expressions of this rule are found in most ancient scriptures and archeological findings around the world. Given its presence across history, the Golden Rule is often described as a Universal Ethical Principle.  

To reflect on the Golden Rule is to reflect from the perspective of Universal Wisdom.

From Ancient times the Golden Rule was not just a moral ideal for relationships between people but also for relationships among nations, cultures, races, sexes, economies and religions.

Its message is simple yet powerful. It is a rule needed for humanity at all times, especially during these modern times of war, chaos, technology and the busyness.

The most ancient expression of this rule is found in the papyrus of the ancient Egyptian Goddess Ma’at which dates back to 1650 BCE.  It states, “Now this is the command: Do to the doer to make him do.”

Another Egyptian papyrus from around 500 BCE has another version of the same rule, it says, “that which you hate to be done to you, do not do to another.”

In Ancient India, in the great Epic, Mahabharatha Epic dated 400 BCE, there is a discourse about dharma by Sage Brihaspat. Here he says, ‘One should never do something to others that one would regard as an injury to one’s own self. In brief, this is dharma. Anything else is succumbing to desire.’

In Padmapurana the Golden Rule is explained as, “If the entire Dharma can be said in a few words, then it is—that which is unfavorable to us, do not do that to others.”

In Ancient Tamil culture, dating back to 1st century BCE,  in the Book of Virtue of the Tirukkural, written by the Divine Sage, TiruValluvar, Kural 316 says, ‘Do not do to others what you know has hurt yourself.’

And Kural 318 says, ‘Why does one hurt others knowing what it is to be hurt?’

Around 500 BCE, in Ancient Greece many philosophers explained this golden rule in their philosophy. 

Sextus the Greek Pythagorean said, “What you do not want to happen to you, do not do it yourself either.”

Thales, another Greek Philosopher said, “Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing.”

Isocrates, the ancient Greek Rhetorician said, “Do not do to others that which angers you when they do it to you.”

In Judaism the scriptures say, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary.”

In Islam, the scriptures say, “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for others what he wishes for himself.”  – from An-Nawawi’s Forty Hadith. 

Some more explanations of the Golden rule from Islam are, “Seek for mankind that of which you are desirous for yourself, that you may be a believer.”

Another one from Islam, “The most righteous person is the one who consents for other people what he consents for himself, and who dislikes for them what he dislikes for himself.”

In many of Buddha’s discourses he explains the Golden Rule, “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” “One who, while himself seeking happiness, oppresses with violence other beings who also desire happiness, will not attain happiness hereafter.”

In Jainism the Golden Rule is explained in Sutrakritanga as, “A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated.

In Jainism scripture, Lord Mahavira says, “In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self.”

In Confucianism we find the Golden Rule,  “One word which sums up the basis of all good conduct, it is loving kindness. What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others.”

In Ancient Persia, the Pahlavi text of Zoroastrianism dating 300 BCE says, “Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others.” 

In Ancient Rome during 300 BCE, Seneca the Younger, a stoic Philosopher, expressed the Golden Rule as, “Treat your inferior as you would wish your superior to treat you.”

In the New Testament, Jesus explains the Golden Rule to his disciples, he says, “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Again in another sermon he explains this Law by saying, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

This same Truth present in every world religion tells us that there is a common ground upon which mutual respect can be built and our kinship as humanity can be sustained.

The Ancient people knew this, and the wisdom keepers  constantly reminded people to keep their focus on the Golden Rule. 

The Golden Rule is the principle of the practice of seeing humanity as one family. Following this principle helps one to move from egoism to sympathy, to get into heart-centered service, to be more compassionate. 

When the Golden Rule is sincerely followed, people become more cooperative, more open to change, they start building sustainable communities, they care and share for each other and all life. As humanity we get to grow into our wholesome selves and we move towards a brighter future. 

Blessings! 

Premlatha Rajkumar

http://awakenlovenjoy.com

https://www.youtube.com/@lattha9100