The Golden Rule - Universal Style

Dawn Walls Bain is one of my favorite people in the world. She is always a well-spring of inspiring information: some pieces she has written herself, others she has the generosity to pass along. I'm convinced that she gets up every morning asking "How can I best use my talents today? What can I give today?" She is an accomplished writer, musician, entrepreneur, and minister.

She is also one of my 27 first cousins. Yes, you read that right! She has been a dear friend, spiritual travel buddy, and cohort in crime ever since we were little kids running around barefoot on our grandparents' farm in northern Florida. With that many of us, we had to learn the Golden Rule out of necessity. You KNEW any mean-spirited prank would come back to haunt you, and the payback would be 10 times worse than whatever you had dished out in the first place. Those early lessons have served us all well - most of us have grown up be the kind of people who actively practice this simple philosophy.

A few days ago, Dawn shared some thoughts on the universality of the Golden Rule with our Good Life community at http://www.protogeniaproject.com/. I wanted to share them with you as well.

The Golden Rule
Thoughts from the Rev. Dawn Walls Bain

I just wanted to share a special heart message this morning. Remember the clever book titled Don’t sweat the Small Stuff? As I read the different faith’s interpretations of The Golden Rule below, I am reminded that we are not so different from other faiths or religions. We seem to get caught up in the differences rather than the similarities. If we step back and think about it, the differences really are “small stuff” as we are all children of the same God.

In my teachings, I always share that I dislike the word “tolerance,” for if you tolerate something there is still something you are not comfortable with for whatever reason. Most of the time, I have found it to be fear of the unknown. For example: A new neighbor moves in next door to you. The father wears a wrap around his head as a covering. You just ignore him and find it odd that he would do such a thing. You do not even wish him a good day when he speaks – you turn your head and pretend you did not hear him, perhaps for fear of what others might think if you talk to someone who is so different than our American cultural way of dressing. If instead, you welcomed him and his family into your home perhaps for a dinner (welcome to the neighborhood type of thing), you could find out by asking why he dresses in such a manner. Why is this important to him? And you might discover that he wonders why you dress as you do! (Did you really think that top and bottom went together???) So if we all became Welcoming and Accepting wouldn’t the world be a better place? I may have opened a can of worms for debate here…and that is fine. This is my Golden Rule in short form. Welcomed Acceptance.

Love to you all!
Dawn

THE GOLDEN RULES

Aboriginal Spirituality
We are as much alive as we keep the Earth alive.
- Chief Dan George

Baha'i Faith
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
Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.
- The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5.18

Christianity
In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
- Jesus, Matthew 7:12

Confucianism
One word which sums up the basis of all good conduct. . .loving kindness. Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.
- Confucius, 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

Islam
Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.
- The Prophet Muhammad, Hadith

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

Judaism
What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary.
- Hillel, Talmud, Shabbath 31a

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, pg. 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

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

Dawn can be reached at mailto:atdawn@azuradawn.com or join the discussion at http://www.protogeniaproject.com/