For the August 2018 CommUNITY Program, we read quotes from various religions and secular sources highlighting the theme of unity. Here are those quotes for your own reflection.
Introduction:
“The interdependence implied by the notion of the oneness of humanity requires a relinquishing of any idea or activity that allows for the suffering of even one person. If we are interdependent, then the suffering of one affects us all. When a person receives an injury to one part of the body, the entire system of that person is affected as the body attempts to heal itself. If the injury is severe, the whole body, not just the affected part, becomes debilitated. The treatment in that situation is multifaceted. Not only is the injured area treated with specific remedies but the whole body also receives the benefit of nutrients that are provided to assist in the healing. Human beings have not yet learned how to apply this concept of healing to the planet or to the human species itself.”
Unity in Diversity: Acceptance and Integration in an Era of Intolerance and Fragmentation by Roxanne Lalonde
Christianity:
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12, King James Version.
“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” Luke 6:31, King James Version.
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.” “And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself.” Baha’u’llah
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
Confucianism:
“Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you” Analects 15:23
“Tse-kung 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 impose on others what you yourself do not desire.’ Doctrine of the Mean 13.3
“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.” Mencius VII.A.4
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.
Hinduism:
“This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.” Mahabharata 5:1517
“Listen to the essence of Dharma. Having listened, focus on it, and establish it in your mind. Do not do any thing to others which you do not want to be done to yourself” Vedas
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.
“In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self.” Lord Mahavira, 24th Tirthankara
“A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated.” Sutrakritanga 1.11.33
Judaism:
“…thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” 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.
“And what you hate, do not do to any one.” Tobit 4:15 6THE GOLDENRULE AS STATED IN OTHER FAITRADITIONS
Native American Spirituality:
“Respect for all life is the foundation.” The Great Law of Peace.
“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:
Compassion-mercy and religion are the support of the entire world”. Japji Sahib
“Don’t create enmity with anyone as God is within everyone.” Guru Arjan Devji 259
“No one is my enemy, none a stranger and everyone is my friend.” Guru Arjan Dev : AG 1299
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 Teh Ching, Chapter 49
Unitarian:
“The inherent worth and dignity of every person;”
“Justice, equity and compassion in human relations…. “
“The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;”
“”We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.” Unitarian principles. 7,8
Wicca:
“A’in 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:
“That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself”. Dadistan-i-dinik 94:5
“Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others.” Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29
Epictetus:
“What you would avoid suffering yourself, seek not to impose on others.” (circa 100 CE)
Plato:
“May I do to others as I would that they should do unto me.” (Greece; 4th century BCE)
Socrates:
“Do not do to others that which would anger you if others did it to you.”
Greece; 5th century BCE
Seneca:
“Treat your inferiors as you would be treated by your superiors,” Epistle 47:11 (Rome; 1st century CE)
