Day 14

Good Morning!

This is from the book I am currently working on, its working title is "God as a Verb".


**********************

As I was doing research for this book, I discovered something very special. Call it a principle, call it a belief, or call it a theme. There is a common thread that winds through every religious and pagan group, on every continent, throughout time.

Now you already know I don't believe in coincidences, but can you imagine any set of coincidences that would create a common belief that would be shared by American Indians, Hindus, Taoists, Roman Pagans, Muslims, Jews and Christians (to name just a few)?

No...? Me either.

Are you wondering what it is? What common belief we all share? Its so easy and so simple (aren't the best things simple) and it's right in front of you. It's what Jesus said was what all other laws were based on... It's what we commonly refer to as "The Golden Rule" and here it is in their own languages.

I challange you to take a moment to read each one as a stand alone thought.

Bahá'í Faith:
"Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not." "Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself."

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

Brahmanism:
"This is the sum of Dharma [duty]: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you". Mahabharata, 5:1517 "

Buddhism:
"...a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?" Samyutta Nikaya v. 353

“Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18

Christianity:
"So in everything do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:12, NIV

"Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:31, NIV.

Confucianism:
"Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you" Analects 15:23

Ancient Egyptian:
"Do for one who may do for you, that you may cause him thus to do." The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant, 109 - 110 Translated by R.B. Parkinson. The original dates to 1970 to 1640 BCE and may be the earliest version ever written. 3

Hinduism:
“This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.” Mahabharata 5:1517

Humanism:
"(11) Humanists affirm that individual and social problems can only be resolved by means of human reason, intelligent effort, critical thinking joined with compassion and a spirit of empathy for all living beings."

"Don't do things you wouldn't want to have done to you, British Humanist Society.

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:
"Therefore, neither does he [a sage] cause violence to others nor does he make others do so." Acarangasutra 5.101-2.

"A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated. "Sutrakritanga 1.11.33

Judaism:
"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself." Leviticus 19:18

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

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

"Do not wrong or hate your neighbor. For it is not he who you wrong, but yourself." Pima proverb.

Roman Pagan Religion:
"The law imprinted on the hearts of all men is to love the members of society as themselves."

Shinto:
"The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form"

"Be charitable to all beings, love is the representative of God." Ko-ji-ki Hachiman Kasuga

Sikhism:
"Don't create enmity with anyone as God is within everyone." Guru Arjan Devji 259

Sufism:
"The basis of Sufism is consideration of the hearts and feelings of others. If you haven't the will to gladden someone's heart, then at least beware lest you hurt someone's heart, for on our path, no sin exists but this." Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh, Master of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order.

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.

"The sage has no interest of his own, but takes the interests of the people as his own. He is kind to the kind; he is also kind to the unkind: for Virtue is kind. He is faithful to the faithful; he is also faithful to the unfaithful: for Virtue is faithful." Tao Te Ching, Chapter 49

Unitarian:
"The inherent worth and dignity of every person;"


"Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.... "


"We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." Unitarian principles. 7,8

Wicca:
"An it harm no one, do what thou wilt" (i.e. do what ever you will, as long as it harms nobody, including yourself). One's will is to be carefully thought out in advance of action. This is called the Wiccan Rede

Yoruba: (Nigeria):
"One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts."

Zoroastrianism:
"Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others." Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29


***************************

As you prepare your heart for the day ahead, strive to see the similarities between us all.

Go with God and "Thanks!" for allowing me to do this.