"[12], In Mahābhārata, the ancient epic of India, there is a discourse in which sage Brihaspati tells the king Yudhishthira the following. Rabbi Akiva agreed and suggested that the principle of love must have its foundation in Genesis chapter 1, which teaches that all men are the offspring of Adam, who was made in the image of God (Sifra, Ḳedoshim, iv. "The Ariyan disciple thus reflects, Here am I, fond of my life, not wanting to die, fond of pleasure and averse from pain. What’s truly interesting is that all decent people (not just believers in God) adopt a rule like the Golden Rule. 4. Other behavior is due to selfish desires. –, "Do not do to others that which angers you when they do it to you." The most serious among these is its application. [65] Various sources identify the Golden Rule as a humanist principle:[66][67], Trying to live according to the Golden Rule means trying to empathise with other people, including those who may be very different from us. In brief, this is dharma. [86], It is possible, then, that the golden rule can itself guide us in identifying which differences of situation are morally relevant. [88], Principle of treating others as oneself would wish to be treated, found in most religions and cultures, "Do Unto Others" redirects here. The Golden Rule, in contrast, requires a heart stirred with love for others. Jesus takes the Golden Rule from Leviticus, written about 1450 BC. [1][8], Possibly the earliest affirmation of the maxim of reciprocity, reflecting the ancient Egyptian goddess Ma'at, appears in the story of "The Eloquent Peasant", which dates to the Middle Kingdom (c. 2040–1650 BCE): "Now this is the command: Do to the doer to make him do. Now let the stirrup go!" Jesus referred to The Golden Rule as "the law and the prophets." W.A. It is also found in the philosophies of Epictetus, Plato, and Socrates. The writings of the Baháʼí Faith encourage everyone to treat others as they would treat themselves and even prefer others over oneself: O SON OF MAN! Rabbi Hillel stated in the Jewish Talmud that The Golden Rule is "the whole of the Torah and the remainder is but commentary." This is the essence of morality. [73], The Golden Rule can also be explained from the perspectives of psychology, philosophy, sociology, human evolution, and economics. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For in effect, of all the actions a man may take in order to create himself as he wills to be, there is not one which is not creative, at the same time, of an image of man such as he believes he ought to be. Spooner, "The Golden Rule," in James Hastings, ed. He is kind to the kind; he is also kind to the unkind: for Virtue is kind. The development of human "rights" is a modern political ideal that began as a philosophical concept promulgated through the philosophy of Jean Jacques Rousseau in 18th century France, among others. What we choose is always the better; and nothing can be better for us unless it is better for all. One should never do that to another which one regards as injurious to one’s own self. Ali ibn Abi Talib (4th Caliph in Sunni Islam, and first Imam in Shia Islam) says: O' my child, make yourself the measure (for dealings) between you and others. : “One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself. [26][27] And it is also taught, that Adam is last in order according to the evolutionary character of God's creation:[25], Why was only a single specimen of man created first? [74] Sociologically, "love your neighbor as yourself" is applicable between individuals, between groups, and also between individuals and groups. Before 2018's celebration, the web site https:www.goldenruleday.org announced: [5] Simon Blackburn also states that the Golden Rule can be "found in some form in almost every ethical tradition". None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself. It has helped us keep apace with events and happenings. The paths of Karma, Jnana and Bhakti are not different but inter-related and they all lead to the ultimate goal, salvation. Philosophically, it involves a person perceiving their neighbor also as "I" or "self". [English title: Conversations of Muhammad]. By making dharma your main focus, treat others as you treat yourself[49], श्रूयतां धर्मसर्वस्वं श्रुत्वा चाप्यवधार्यताम्। Hence one should learn to work in a detached manner renouncing the desire for the fruits of action. Vyasa, the enlightened Hindu sage, called it "the sum of all true righteousness." According to Marc H. Bornstein, and William E. Paden, the Golden Rule is arguably the most essential basis for the modern concept of human rights, in which each individual has a right to just treatment, and a reciprocal responsibility to ensure justice for others. [84] Counter-examples to the golden rule typically are more forceful against the first than the second. Hillel recognized brotherly love as the fundamental principle of Jewish ethics. [is] (…) the single greatest, simplest, and most important moral axiom humanity has ever invented, one which reappears in the writings of almost every culture and religion throughout history, the one we know as the Golden Rule. [85] An article by Jouni Reinikainen develops this suggestion in greater detail. Commentators summed up foreigners (= Samaritans), proselytes (= 'strangers who resides with you') (Rabbi Akiva, bQuid 75b) or Jews (Rabbi Gamaliel, yKet 3, 1; 27a) to the scope of the meaning. "[30], Israel's postal service quoted from the previous Leviticus verse when it commemorated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on a 1958 postage stamp.[31]. It does not presume to do anything unto others, but merely to avoid doing what would be harmful. ", The passage in the book of Luke then continues with Jesus answering the question, "Who is my neighbor? In the Hindu texts the rule is understood in terms of ahimsa (non-violence). Emil Homerin, University of Rochester, USA 10. As a subscriber, you are not only a beneficiary of our work but also its enabler. The Golden Rule, a core precept of many religions, emphasizes the importance of treating others with compassion. At bottom, it … IntroductionIn his book Understanding Religion the British-Persian scholar Moojan Momen demonstrates that the Golden Rule, an ethical code which is often formulated as 'do not do to others what you do not want to be done to yourself,' is found in various religious traditions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Baha'i … Teach me something to go to heaven with it. Then there are individuals who live by it, regardless of faith. He who desires his own good, should avoid causing any harm to a living being. See also. This principle of "doing unto others, wherever possible, as they would be done by..." has sometimes been termed the platinum rule. (eds.) On the verse, "Love your fellow as yourself", the classic commentator Rashi quotes from Torat Kohanim, an early Midrashic text regarding the famous dictum of Rabbi Akiva: "Love your fellow as yourself – Rabbi Akiva says this is a great principle of the Torah. This, in brief, is the rule of dharma. According to him, the proper punishment to those who have done evil is to put them to shame by showing them kindness, in return and to forget both the evil and the good done on both sides (verse 314).[16]. Seek for mankind that of which you are desirous for yourself, that you may be a believer. Why does one hurt others knowing what it is to be hurt? The "Golden Rule" of Leviticus 19:18 was quoted by Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 7:12; see also Luke 6:31) and described by him as the second great commandment. Mencius VII.A.4 "There are four things in the moral life of man, not one of which I have been able to carry out in my life. Regard bad for yourself whatever you regard bad for others. When we say that man chooses for himself, we do mean that every one of us must choose himself; but by that we also mean that in choosing for himself he chooses for all men. Photo by Chinh Le Duc on Unsplash. The obvious way is to ask them, but this cannot be done if one assumes they have not reached a particular and relevant understanding. Jesus referred to The Golden Rule as "the law and the prophets. And although it isn’t possible to know what it really feels like to be a different person or live in different circumstances and have different life experiences, it isn’t difficult for most of us to imagine what would cause us suffering and to try to avoid causing suffering to others. This is an image of two toddlers showing kindness to each other, posing no harm to each other. To choose between this or that is at the same time to affirm the value of that which is chosen; for we are unable ever to choose the worse. [1] It can be considered an ethic of reciprocity in some religions, although different religions treat it differently. The Formulation and Significance of the Golden Rule in Buddhism [I], Kristen Scheible, Bard College, USA 11. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.[52]. Deny not My servant should he ask anything from thee, for his face is My face; be then abashed before Me. ", by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan, which John Wesley interprets as meaning that "your neighbor" is anyone in need. Mohammed described it as "the noblest expression of religion." This image represents a friendly greeting of two elderly persons. Today, with about 900 million followers, Hinduism … Moore: Judaism in the First Centuries of the Christian Era; Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1927–1930; Vol. The most important ethical rule Gandhi abstracted from his reading of the Gita, and what he labelled as the Golden Rule, is the following: “All acts that are incapable of being performed without attachment are … It is a maxim that is found in most religions and cultures. [75] In economics, Richard Swift, referring to ideas from David Graeber, suggests that "without some kind of reciprocity society would no longer be able to exist. Marcus George Singer observed that there are two importantly different ways of looking at the golden rule: as requiring (1) that you perform specific actions that you want others to do to you or (2) that you guide your behavior in the same general ways that you want others to. This article compares the oldest Hindu versions of the Golden Rule found in the Mahabharata with those in the gospels. The Golden Rule is implicitly expressed in some verses of the Qur’an, but is explicitly declared in the sayings of Muhammad. Vyasa, the enlightened Hindu sage, called it "the sum of all true righteousness." *Our Digital Subscription plans do not currently include the e-paper, crossword and print. This seems to be close to Luke’s version, in which the maxim is closely connected with the appeal to love one’s enemies. But work done with attachment to fruits brings in its wake bondage. ix. The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as you want to be treated. [78] Kant's Categorical Imperative, introduced in Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, is often confused with the Golden Rule. If you say "yes it is", it would be a lie. M. G. Singer, The Ideal of a Rational Morality, p. 270. Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn Sharīf al-Raḍī & ʻAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (eds. The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as you want to be treated. Vand Chakko. In this way, the golden rule may be self-correcting. While motivating Arjuna to act, He teaches him how to convert action into karma yoga. Overview: The Ethic of Reciprocity -- often called the Golden Rule-- simply states that all of us are to treat other people as we would wish other people to treat us in return.. On April 5 each year, the International Golden Rule Day is observed as a global virtual celebration. How do you read it? Once, he was challenged by a gentile who asked to be converted under the condition that the Torah be explained to him while he stood on one foot. If you say, "No, It is not" you will be expressing the truth. The Universality of the Golden Rule in the World Religions. 18 Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. Hinduism “One should never do that to another which one regards as injurious to one’s own self. 41c; Genesis Rabba 24). Egbe bere, ugo bere. [3] The Initial Declaration was signed by 143 leaders from all of the world's major faiths, including Baháʼí Faith, Brahmanism, Brahma Kumaris, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Indigenous, Interfaith, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Native American, Neo-Pagan, Sikhism, Taoism, Theosophist, Unitarian Universalist and Zoroastrian. Satya (Truth) is the principle that equates God with soul. Saman Suttam of Jinendra Varni[54] gives further insight into this precept:-. To enable wide dissemination of news that is in public interest, we have increased the number of articles that can be read free, and extended free trial periods. It is easy to come up with, easy to understand, and easy to apply, and these three things are the hallmarks of a strong and healthy moral system. Ned. But this "silver rule" as it is sometimes called, requires nothing of you. One who, while himself seeking happiness, oppresses with violence other beings who also desire happiness, will not attain happiness hereafter. ", He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself. St. Paul also comments on the golden rule in the book of Romans: “The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Romans 13:8-9 (NIV). It can be considered an ethic of reciprocity in some religions, although different religions treat it differently. Enjoy reading as many articles as you wish without any limitations. Its earliest expression is found in ancient wisdom texts and stories in Chinese, Egyptian and Greek societies and it is found in nearly all the world’s religious traditions. Jouni Reinikainen, "The Golden Rule and the Requirement of Universalizability." Do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you. You have reached your limit for free articles this month. One who is going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts. Empathy is at the root of kindness, compassion, understanding and respect – qualities that we all appreciate being shown, whoever we are, whatever we think and wherever we come from. The idea behind it is readily graspable: before performing an action which might harm another person, try to imagine yourself in their position, and consider whether you would want to be the recipient of that action. ), tasmād dharma-pradhānéna bhavitavyam yatātmanā | tathā cha sarva-bhūtéṣhu vartitavyam yathātmani ||, Ivanhoe and Van Norden translation, 68–69. A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated. The Old Testament Deuterocanonical books of Tobit and Sirach, accepted as part of the Scriptural canon by Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Non-Chalcedonian Churches, express a negative form of the golden rule: "Do to no one what you yourself dislike. Learn how and when to remove this template message, Towards a Global Ethic: An Initial Declaration, United States Declaration of Independence, Reciprocity (social and political philosophy), "Parliament of the World's Religions – Towards a Global Ethic", A Late Period Hieratic Wisdom Text: P. Brooklyn 47.218.135", "Tosefta on Mishnah Seder Nezikin Sanhedrin 8.4–9 (Erfurt Manuscript)", "Sol Singer Collection of Philatelic Judaica", "John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on Luke 10", "Baháʼí Reference Library – The Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 11", "The Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh – Part II", "The Buddha (BC 623–BC 543) – Religion and spirituality Article – Buddha, BC, 623", Detachment and Compassion in Early Buddhism, "The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions", How to Make Good Decisions and Be Right All the Time, "Mary Wakefield: What 'The Water Babies' can teach us about personal", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Golden_Rule&oldid=1007321761, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles lacking reliable references from August 2020, Articles containing Chinese-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Treat others as you would like others to treat you (positive or directive form), What you wish upon others, you wish upon yourself (empathetic or responsive form), "Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing." Move smoothly between articles as our pages load instantly. If people regarded other people’s states in the same way that they regard their own, who then would incite their own state to attack that of another? The Hindu has always stood for journalism that is in the public interest. [87], Charles Kingsley's The Water Babies (1863) includes a character named Mrs Do-As-You-Would-Be-Done-By (and another, Mrs Be-Done-By-As-You-Did). Their tastes may be different" is no doubt a smart saying. In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self. Do this, and you will live. Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama, c. 623–543 BCE)[50][51] made this principle one of the cornerstones of his ethics in the 6th century BCE. Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion, according to many scholars, with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. Find mobile-friendly version of articles from the day's newspaper in one easy-to-read list. Of course one must say it is a benefit to the world. The Golden Rule is a central focus in Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Native American Spirituality, Hinduism, Taoism, Sufism, and more. We have been keeping you up-to-date with information on the developments in India and the world that have a bearing on our health and wellbeing, our lives and livelihoods, during these difficult times. –, This page was last edited on 17 February 2021, at 14:43. In his book on the golden rule, Jeffrey Wattles makes the similar observation that such objections typically arise while applying the golden rule in certain general ways (namely, ignoring differences in taste, in situation, and so forth). All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. You can support quality journalism by turning off ad blocker or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to The Hindu. Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself. If you would not want to be in such a position, the other person probably would not either, and so you should not do it. Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. As part of the prohibition of causing any living beings to suffer, Jainism forbids inflicting upon others what is harmful to oneself. A Hindu Golden Rule, in Context, Richard Davis, Bard College, USA 13. He is faithful to the faithful; he is also faithful to the unfaithful: for Virtue is faithful. Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss. And why was Adam created last of all beings? The Hinduism Golden Rule "This is the sum of duty: do not do others A similar passage, a parallel to the Great Commandment, is Luke 10:25-28, Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? The phraseology differs from the Christian version of the Golden Rule. आत्मनः प्रतिकूलानि परेषां न समाचरेत्।।. "[80] This suggests that if your values are not shared with others, the way you want to be treated will not be the way they want to be treated. In support of this Truth, I ask you a question – "Is sorrow or pain desirable to you ?" Only through love shall ye have peace; yea and verily, only peace and love will cure the world, and subdue all evil.". The following quotation from the Acaranga Sutra sums up the philosophy of Jainism: Nothing which breathes, which exists, which lives, or which has essence or potential of life, should be destroyed or ruled over, or subjugated, or harmed, or denied of its essence or potential. However, the texts for Confucianism, Hinduism, and Buddhism, cited above, were all written between 500 and 400 BC, at the earliest. Philosophers, such as Immanuel Kant[78] and Friedrich Nietzsche,[79] have objected to the rule on a variety of grounds. And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself. He also expressed the Golden Rule in its positive form: "Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence." The Golden Rule. Rabbi Hillel stated in the Jewish Talmud that The Golden Rule is "the whole of the Torah and the remainder is but commentary." Just as pain is not agreeable to you, it is so with others. Anything else is succumbing to desire. Examples of the general concept include: The Pahlavi Texts of Zoroastrianism (c. 300 BCE–1000 CE) were an early source for the Golden Rule: "That nature alone is good which refrains from doing to another whatsoever is not good for itself." If thou desirest thy Beloved, then hurt thou not anyone's heart. But if we apply the golden rule to our own method of using it, asking in effect if we would want other people to apply the golden rule in such ways, the answer would typically be no, since it is quite predictable that others' ignoring of such factors will lead to behavior which we object to. In Hinduism the Golden Rule is: This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you.” — Mahabharata 5,1517 In many ways, we are on the same page as you will see in the following quotes, first from the Hindu perspective and then the humanist. All other activities are due to selfish desire.” (Anusasanaq-parvan 113.8) The sage has no interest of his own, but takes the interests of the people as his own. ", He said to him, "What is written in the law? But not a single one of these versions of the golden rule requires a God". The same idea is also presented in V.12 and VI.30 of the Analects (c. 500 BCE), which can be found in the online Chinese Text Project. The Golden Rule is commonly understood to mean treat others the way you want to be treated. Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself. ), Nke si ibe ya ebene gosi ya ebe o ga-ebe. The common English phrasing is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Hillel accepted him as a candidate for conversion to Judaism but, drawing on Leviticus 19:18, briefed the man: What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn. Selflessly serving others, sharing income and resources including foodstuffs … Immanuel Kant famously criticized the golden rule for not being sensitive to differences of situation, noting that a prisoner duly convicted of a crime could appeal to the golden rule while asking the judge to release him, pointing out that the judge would not want anyone else to send him to prison, so he should not do so to others. Thus the "golden rule" might still express the essence of a universal morality even if no two men in the world had any needs or tastes in common.[83]. Emil Homerin: "Pre-Islamic Arabs regarded the survival of the tribe, as most essential and to be ensured by the ancient rite of blood vengeance. The Way to Happiness expresses the Golden Rule both in its negative/prohibitive form and in its positive form. The Golden Rule is paramount in the Jainist philosophy and can be seen in the doctrines of Ahimsa and Karma. "[76], Study of other primates provides evidence that the Golden Rule exists in other non-human species. (Let the eagle perch, let the hawk perch. The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as you want to be treated. What may the Hindu texts, which usually receive little … 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. (2008) "Mahābhārata" in, Kedoshim 19:18, Toras Kohanim, ibid. Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29[21], Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BCE–65 CE), a practitioner of Stoicism (c. 300 BCE–200 CE) expressed the Golden Rule in his essay regarding the treatment of slaves: "Treat your inferior as you would wish your superior to treat you. His writings influenced Thomas Jefferson, who then incorporated Rousseau's reference to "inalienable rights" into the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776.

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