Often times I forget things that I do to others no matter if they are intentionally or not, hurt people just as it would hurt me. In fact, all religions have the rule of ethic of reciprocity and even though these are express in different words, they all come down t o the same conclusion: Do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you. Here are some of the scriptures:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
1. Judaism and Christianity. Bible, Leviticus 19.18
Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.
2. Christianity. Bible, Matthew 7.12
Not one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.
3. Islam. Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 13
A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated.
4. Jainism. Sutrakritanga 1.11.33
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.
5. Confucianism. Mencius VII.A.4
One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself. This is the essence
of morality. All other activities are due to selfish desire.
6. Hinduism. Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva 113.8
Tsekung asked, "Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct for life?" Confucius
replied, "It is the word shu--reciprocity: Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to
you."
7. Confucianism. Analects 15.23
Leviticus 19.18: Quoted by Jesus in Matthew 22.36-40 (below). Mencius VII.A.4 and Analects
15.23: Cf. Analects 6.28.2, p. 975.
World Scripture - The Golden Rule Page 1 of 3
http://www.unification.net/ws/theme015.htm 3/18/2008Comparing oneself to others in such terms as "Just as I am so are they, just as they are so am I," he
should neither kill nor cause others to kill.
8. Buddhism. Sutta Nipata 705
One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it
hurts.
9. African Traditional Religions. Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria)
One who you think should be hit is none else but you. One who you think should be governed is
none else but you. One who you think should be tortured is none else but you. One who you think
should be enslaved is none else but you. One who you think should be killed is none else but you.
A sage is ingenuous and leads his life after comprehending the parity of the killed and the killer.
Therefore, neither does he cause violence to others nor does he make others do so.
10. Jainism. Acarangasutra 5.101-2
The Ariyan disciple thus reflects, Here am I, fond of my life, not wanting to die, fond of pleasure
and averse from pain. Suppose someone should rob me of my life... it would not be a thing pleasing
and delightful to me. If I, in my turn, should rob of his life one fond of his life, not wanting to die,
one fond of pleasure and averse from pain, it would not be a thing pleasing or delightful to him. For
a state that is not pleasant or delightful to me must also be to him also; and a state that is not
pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?
As a result of such reflection he himself abstains from taking the life of creatures and he
encourages others so to abstain, and speaks in praise of so abstaining.
11. Buddhism. Samyutta Nikaya v.353
A certain heathen came to Shammai and said to him, "Make me a proselyte, on condition that you
teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot." Thereupon he repulsed him with the rod
which was in his hand. When he went to Hillel, he said to him, "What is hateful to you, do not do to
your neighbor: that is the whole Torah; all the rest of it is commentary; go and learn."
12. Judaism. Talmud, Shabbat 31a
Sutta Nipata 705: Cf. Dhammapada 129-130, p. 478. Acarangasutra 5.101-2: Cf. Dhammapada
129-130, p. 478. Samyutta Nikaya v.353: The passage gives a similar reflection about abstaining
from other types of immoral behavior: theft, adultery, etc. To identify oneself with others is also a
corollary to the Mahayana insight that all reality is interdependent and mutually related; cf. Guide
to a Bodhisattva's Way of Life 8.112-16, p. 181; Majjhima Nikaya i.415, p. 465.
World Scripture - The Golden Rule Page 2 of 3
http://www.unification.net/ws/theme015.htm 3/18/2008"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord
your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and
first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two
commandments depend all the law and the prophets."
13. Christianity. Bible, Matthew 22.36-40
Matthew 22.36-40: Cf. Deuteronomy 6.4-9, p. 55; Leviticus 19.18, p. 173; Luke 10.25-37, p. 971;
Galatians 6.2, p. 974; Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 5.2.2, p. 972; Sun Myung Moon, 9-30-79, p. 150.
World Scripture - The Golden Rule Page 3 of 3.
Wilson, A. (Ed.). (1991). The golden rule. In World scripture: A comparative anthology of sacred texts. St. Paul, MN: Paragon House.
Used by permission. Wilson, A. (1998).World Scripture: A Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts. St. Paul, MN: Paragon House.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
1. Judaism and Christianity. Bible, Leviticus 19.18
Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.
2. Christianity. Bible, Matthew 7.12
Not one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.
3. Islam. Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 13
A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated.
4. Jainism. Sutrakritanga 1.11.33
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.
5. Confucianism. Mencius VII.A.4
One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself. This is the essence
of morality. All other activities are due to selfish desire.
6. Hinduism. Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva 113.8
Tsekung asked, "Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct for life?" Confucius
replied, "It is the word shu--reciprocity: Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to
you."
7. Confucianism. Analects 15.23
Leviticus 19.18: Quoted by Jesus in Matthew 22.36-40 (below). Mencius VII.A.4 and Analects
15.23: Cf. Analects 6.28.2, p. 975.
World Scripture - The Golden Rule Page 1 of 3
http://www.unification.net/ws/theme015.htm 3/18/2008Comparing oneself to others in such terms as "Just as I am so are they, just as they are so am I," he
should neither kill nor cause others to kill.
8. Buddhism. Sutta Nipata 705
One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it
hurts.
9. African Traditional Religions. Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria)
One who you think should be hit is none else but you. One who you think should be governed is
none else but you. One who you think should be tortured is none else but you. One who you think
should be enslaved is none else but you. One who you think should be killed is none else but you.
A sage is ingenuous and leads his life after comprehending the parity of the killed and the killer.
Therefore, neither does he cause violence to others nor does he make others do so.
10. Jainism. Acarangasutra 5.101-2
The Ariyan disciple thus reflects, Here am I, fond of my life, not wanting to die, fond of pleasure
and averse from pain. Suppose someone should rob me of my life... it would not be a thing pleasing
and delightful to me. If I, in my turn, should rob of his life one fond of his life, not wanting to die,
one fond of pleasure and averse from pain, it would not be a thing pleasing or delightful to him. For
a state that is not pleasant or delightful to me must also be to him also; and a state that is not
pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?
As a result of such reflection he himself abstains from taking the life of creatures and he
encourages others so to abstain, and speaks in praise of so abstaining.
11. Buddhism. Samyutta Nikaya v.353
A certain heathen came to Shammai and said to him, "Make me a proselyte, on condition that you
teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot." Thereupon he repulsed him with the rod
which was in his hand. When he went to Hillel, he said to him, "What is hateful to you, do not do to
your neighbor: that is the whole Torah; all the rest of it is commentary; go and learn."
12. Judaism. Talmud, Shabbat 31a
Sutta Nipata 705: Cf. Dhammapada 129-130, p. 478. Acarangasutra 5.101-2: Cf. Dhammapada
129-130, p. 478. Samyutta Nikaya v.353: The passage gives a similar reflection about abstaining
from other types of immoral behavior: theft, adultery, etc. To identify oneself with others is also a
corollary to the Mahayana insight that all reality is interdependent and mutually related; cf. Guide
to a Bodhisattva's Way of Life 8.112-16, p. 181; Majjhima Nikaya i.415, p. 465.
World Scripture - The Golden Rule Page 2 of 3
http://www.unification.net/ws/theme015.htm 3/18/2008"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord
your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and
first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two
commandments depend all the law and the prophets."
13. Christianity. Bible, Matthew 22.36-40
Matthew 22.36-40: Cf. Deuteronomy 6.4-9, p. 55; Leviticus 19.18, p. 173; Luke 10.25-37, p. 971;
Galatians 6.2, p. 974; Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 5.2.2, p. 972; Sun Myung Moon, 9-30-79, p. 150.
World Scripture - The Golden Rule Page 3 of 3.
Wilson, A. (Ed.). (1991). The golden rule. In World scripture: A comparative anthology of sacred texts. St. Paul, MN: Paragon House.
Used by permission. Wilson, A. (1998).World Scripture: A Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts. St. Paul, MN: Paragon House.
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