Heart of Gold and The Golden Rule
Searching for the Golden Rule
What is the Golden Rule? You might already have a general idea, but it simply means to "Treat others the way you want to be treated.” Another way to say it is "Do unto others as you would have them.” Gold has long been seen as the highest standard, like the Olympic Gold Medal or a Heart of Gold. In the same way, treating others as you wish to be treated is considered the highest principle of ethical conduct.
Ethic of reciprocity (say that fast 3X)
The Golden Rule, sometimes called the “ethic of reciprocity,” appears in almost every major religion and philosophy. It was present in ancient Egypt and Greece, and Confucius also described it. The Golden Rule has been the foundation for peaceful living throughout history. The idea is mentioned twice in the Christian Bible: Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31.
"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)
Parliament of the World's Religions
The Parliament of the World's Religions is an interfaith event where people from many backgrounds come together to explore how different traditions can collaborate on global issues. In its "Declaration Toward a Global Ethic," the Parliament named the Golden Rule as a shared principle among many religions. You can visit the Parliament of the World's Religions website to learn more about their Vision and Mission.
Examples of The Golden Rule in more religious faiths:
Bahá'í Faith: Advises against imposing burdens on others that one would not want for oneself.
Buddhism: Urges not hurting others in ways you would find hurtful.
Confucianism: Recommends not doing to others what you would not want done to yourself.
Hinduism: Defines duty as not causing pain to others, as you would not want for yourself (Mahabharata).
Islam: Highlights loving for your brother what you love for yourself (Hadith).
Jainism/Judaism/Native American/Sikhism/Taoism/Zoroastrianism: Emphasize loving neighbors, treating others as oneself, or avoiding causing harm to others.
The song “Heart of Gold” by Neil Young is on my mind, of course. The lyrics are moving, but I don’t believe the melody will be leaving anytime soon.
