Samyutta nikaya v 353

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THE GOLDEN RULE

The Golden Rule or the ethic of reciprocity is found in the scriptures of nearly every religion. It is often

regarded as the most concise and general principle of ethics. It is a condensation in one principle of all longer

lists of ordinances such as the Decalogue. See also texts on Loving Kindness, pp. 967-73.

Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

1. Judaism and Christianity. Bible, Leviticus 19.18

Therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even 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

Wilson, Andrew. World Scripture: A Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts. St. Paul: Paragon House. 1998.

World Scripture - The Golden Rule Page 2 of 3

Comparing 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."