E-Paper
Do unto others
It is the ultimate norm of high morality. It means we should treat people as we would like to be treated, writes Dr KK Aggarwal.
Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."
It is the ultimate norm of high morality in any culture. It means that: that we should treat people as we would like to be treated.
It comes straight from the Bible (Matthew, chapter 7 verse 12). It is also an essence in summation of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes from Christ's teaching. The Mosaic Law contains a parallel commandment: "Whatever is hurtful to you, do not do to any other person." A command based on words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Another verse comes from Luke: "Do unto others as you would have them do to you". Luke 6:31
In 500 BC, when the Chinese philosopher, K'ung Fu Tzu (Confucius) was asked, "Is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one's life?" He replied, "Is not RECIPROCITY such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others." Another Chinese philosopher, Meng-zi (Mencius), who is thought to have lived from 371 to 289 BC, taught of trying your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated as the shortest path to goodness and peace. The Greek philosopher Socrates, who lived from 469 to 399 BC, said; "What stirs your anger when done to you by others that do not to others."
A few examples are:
"If you don't want to be ripped off, don't rip off others".
"If you don't want your spouse to cheat on you, don't cheat on your spouse".
"If you don't want to be judged, don't judge".
Lawyers use this with a modification: Do unto Others before They Sue Unto YOU.
BAHA'I: "Blessed are those who prefer others before themselves." (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, 71)
Buddhism: "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." (Udana-Varga, 5:18)
Christianity: "Always treat others as you would like them to treat you." (Jesus, Matthew 7:12)
Christianity: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."
Confucianism: "Do not unto others what you would not have them do unto you." (Analects 15:23)
Hillel: What is hateful to yourself, do not do to your fellow man." First century B.C.
Hinduism: "This is the sum of all duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you." (Mahabharata 5:1517).
Humanist: Don't do things you wouldn't want to have done to you. Twentieth century A.D.
Islam: "No one of you is a believer until you desire for another that which you desire for yourself" (Sunnah).
Judaism: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor that is the entire Torah; all the rest is commentary." (Talmud, Shabbat 31a).
Jainism: "In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, regard all creatures as you would regard your own self." (Lord Mahavir 24th Tirthankara).
Lennon/McCartney: "At the end the love you take is equal to the love you make."
Maya: "You are myself. We are all one."
Native American: "Respect for all life is the foundation" -- The Great Law of Peace
Pagan: "Do as you will and harm none."
Plato: May I do to others as I would that they should do to me.
Prophet Muhammad: "None of you truly believe unless you love for others what you love for yourself."
Sikhism: "Be not estranged from another for God dwells in every heart."
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib)
Taoism: "Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain; and regard your neighbor's loss as your own loss."
Unitarianism: We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent of all existence of which we are a part. (Eighteenth century A.D)
Wiccan: "Everything you do, whether positive or negative, is returned to you threefold." (The Threefold Law)
Zoroastrianism: "Human nature is good only when it does not do unto another what ever is no good for its own self." (Dadistan-i-Dinik, 94:5)
Vedas and Puranas: Whatever you do unto others will later return to you, either in this life or in the next life.
Wiccan: An it harm none, do what ye will. Wiccan Rede - twentieth century A.D.
Do unto others what you do unto yourself. Satisfy your conscience. That is your Dharma. Do not follow the dictates of body, for body is like a water bubble. Do not indiscriminately follow the mind, for the mind is like a mad monkey. Follow the conscience, i.e., the principle of Atma. (Satya Sai baba)
There is a law of science that says 'every action has an equal and opposite reaction.' The Vedic science of Karma says the same thing in its own language; 'whatever you do comes back to you…manifold.' Western religions guide us similarly; 'as you sow so shall you reap' and 'do unto others as you want others to do unto you.'
(The writer is a senior Physician, Head Department of Cardiology and Deputy Dean Board of Medical Education-Moolchand Hospital, President-Heart Care Foundation of India, President Delhi Medical Association and Member-Delhi Medical Council.)
