By Sr. Teresa Joseph, FMA –
Unesco Cardinal Paul Poupard Foundation Chair of Inter-Religious and inter-cultural dialogue held a group discussion on January 21-22, 2020 at Mumbai’s St. Andrew’s College at Bandra. The discussion threw up some interesting insights on Golden Rule that forms the basis of a model community. The Golden Rule essentially focuses on the universal brotherhood, “Treat others as you would like to be treated.”
Today, Covid–19 has shocked the whole human family as never before. Earlier this week, we hearkened to the call of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi by switching off electric lights for nine minutes at 9 pm on April 5, and lit candles or lamps, or flash torchlight’s or mobile lights standing at the doorsteps or balconies. “Amid the darkness spread by the corona pandemic, we must continuously progress towards light and hope.”
While the whole World battles with Covid-19, it became impossible for our dioceses to have the XXXV World Youth Day 2020, which is traditionally celebrated at the diocesan level all over the world on April 5, the voices of our youngsters from St. Andrew’s College Bandra, Mumbai brings rays of light and hope.
Pope Francis has his own unique way of empowering the young. In Krakow, at the opening of World Youth Day, he asked the young people several times: “Can we change things?” And the Youth shouted: “Yes.” The same Pope urged young people to raise their voices: “You have it in you to shout.” For the 35th World Youth Day 2020, Pope Francis tells the young: “Young man, I say to you, arise!” (Lk 7:14). In a group discussion our youngsters reflect on the Golden Rule and suggest ways on how one can make it a way of life.
The Golden Rule: basis for a model community
Group 1: Abigail Noronha, Leann Moorthy, Sasha Gonsalves and Racquel Gohil
The Golden Rule forms the basis of a model community. It states: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The rule traces its origin back to Christianity as proved by Matthew 7:12. Throughout history this rule has been adopted by 13 other religions.
The Golden Rule across the World’s Religions
Thirteen Sacred Texts
Bahá’í Faith: Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself – Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings
Buddhism: Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful – The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5.18
Christianity: In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. Jesus – Matthew 7:12
Confucianism: One word which sums up the basis of all good conduct….loving-kindness. Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself – Confucius, Analects 15.23
Hinduism: This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you – Mahabharata 5:1517
Islam: Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself – The Prophet Muhammad, Hadith
Jainism: One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated- Mahavira, Sutrakritanga 1.11.33
Judaism: What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary. Go and learn it – Hillel, Talmud, Shabbath 31a
Native Spirituality: We are as much alive as we keep the earth alive – Chief Dan George
Sikhism: I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to all – Guru Granth Sahib, p.1299
Taoism: Regard your neighbour’s gain as your own gain and your neighbour’s loss as your own loss – Lao Tzu, T’ai Shang Kan Ying P’ien, 213-218
Unitarianism: We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part – Unitarian principle
Zoroastrianism: Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself – Shayast-na-Shayast 13.29
While words have been changed to suit the persons agenda the underlining message has still remained the same. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 1993: One may never do evil so ha good may result, the golden rules and charity always respects one’s neighbour and his conscience.
In 1996 Confucian scholar David Nivison calls the golden rule “the ground of community, without which no morality could develop: it is the attitude that the other person is not just a physical object, that I might use or manipulate, but a person like myself, whom I should treat accordingly.”
In 2008 a German Jesuit Christian Troll, Christian-Muslim dialogue spokesperson says: “Try to understand the other’s faith as you would like your own faith to be understood.” While everyone either took the philosophical or religious route, C.K. Cole took a more practical approach: “Math proves the golden rule.” In the commandments, Jesus has said: “love thy neighbour as thyself” is one important lesson that Jesus has given us. This means that you should love everyone irrespective of race, colour, religion and culture. To respect people’s culture means to treat it like your own. This rule has been present for many years and adopted by several cultures. It may not be word for word but the idea is same. In today’s world, conflicts erupt as people are not sensitive and understanding of other’s needs.
In the words of St. John Paul II while speaking to world-religion leaders “, says: “Jesus Christ reminded us of the Golden Rule: ‘Treat others as you would like them to treat you.’ Your various religious creeds may have a similar injunction. The observance of this golden rule is an excellent foundation of peace.” This was the idea that brought about peace during his time.
Pope Francis while addressing the US Congress in 2005 states that “Let us remember the Golden Rule: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ (Mt 7:12). This Rule points us in a clear direction. Let us treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated. Let us seek for others the same possibilities which we seek for ourselves. Let us help others to grow, as we would like to be helped ourselves. In a word, if we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities. The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will use for us. The Golden Rule also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development.”
We strive to master the Golden Rule through compassion, empathy, engagement and unity.
“Where there is kindness,
There is goodness,
Where there is goodness,
There is love.
EMPOWER, BE FREE and
TREAT EACH OTHER EQUALLY.”
The Golden Rule: A Universal way of living
Group 2: Blessy Varghese, Errol D’Silva, Lennox Lewis and Cindy Lopez
Errol D’Silva says that the Golden Rule can be put into action during Covid-19: People who work on the basis of daily wages are suffering a lot because of no jobs, we must ensure to that our family provides at least some help to them i.e by offering some monetary aid or food for survival.
The basic concept of the Golden Rule is to, “Treat others as you would like to be treated.” The Golden Rule is a Universal Way of Living which can be applied to everyone. It has been derived from the fundamental values of all religious beliefs.
Throughout history many great leaders have promoted the golden rule through their teachings and principles. Buddha in India, teaches compassion and shunning unhealthy desires. “There is nothing dearer to man than himself; therefore, as it is the same thing that is dear to you and to others, hurt not others with what pains yourself” (Dhammapada, Northern Canon, 5:18). St. John Paul II affirms: “The observance of this Golden Rule is an excellent foundation of peace.” Barack Obama highlights the golden rule in a video at the Democratic Convention. He often appeals to the golden rule in speeches as president. Other important identities like Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther have mentioned the Golden Rule.
To master the golden rule we must have the following values:
Empathy – Putting yourself in another person’s shoes. Empathy is like a universal solvent. Any problem immersed in empathy becomes soluble.
Compassion is a positive emotion that has to do with being thoughtful, kind caring and willing to help others.
Engagement – Through empathy and compassion we can willingly engage with others and hence master the golden rule.
Unity – Once we engage with others with compassionate empathy, we can make the world a better place. Unity helps us to grow, gives us courage and works wonders.
The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as you want to be treated. It can be considered an Ethic of Reciprocity, in some religions.
The Golden Rule: The art of mastering the Golden Rule
Group 3: Ronica Sequeira, Alisha Bernard, Christina Andrades and Snehas Sabu
The Golden Rule basically states that an individual must treat the other person how he/she would like to be or wish to be treated. The Golden Rule has existed since a long time and has been expressed in various ways from the beginning of time. Right from 100,000 B.C, there are many instances of the Golden Rule being used in many speeches and books. It has been used by prominent speakers like Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln and has influenced the minds of many. Two prominent times the golden Rule has been mentioned which we found relevant are: Confucian scholar David Nivison calls the golden rule “the ground of community, without which no morality could develop: it is the attitude that the other person is not just a physical object, that I might use or manipulate, but a person like myself, whom I should treat accordingly.”
Christian Troll, a German Jesuit who does Christian-Muslim dialogue suggests a golden rule for understanding other’s religions: “Try to understand the other’s faith as you would like your own faith to be understood.” These are just 2 out of many instances where the Golden Rule has been quoted or applied. The history of the Golden Rule is quite long but it has been inspiring and influencing many throughout.
The question that then arises is how would I master the golden Rule? There are 4 processes: Empathy, compassion, engagement and unity. Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and try to imagine what they are feeling and going through. If you are able to understand what that person is going through then automatically you treat them better. Being compassionate means being sympathetic and having concern for the sufferings and misfortunes of others.
Golden Rule is ”do as you would be done by.” It’s very important to keep the golden rule in mind during the pandemic of Covid-19.
We cannot roam out on roads without masks and expect people to wear them in order to keep ourselves safe. We need to stay home and not go out of the homes pretending as if we’re safe. A person next to you is as scared as you are. We need to keep ourselves hygienic in order to keep others safe.
By becoming compassionate towards an individual you start treating their problems as your own and treat them how you would treat yourself. Moving from just the feeling of empathy and compassion, we move to action of actually doing something and engaging ourselves in doing the right things and right actions towards another. Unity is very important aspect to golden Rule. From being separate individuals to joining together and standing together in unity is very important especially in a world like ours, where we have constant conflicts. People are insensitive towards other’s needs.
In a world where we have the talks of World War 3 happening, the Golden Rule is very important. If individuals are able treat others the way they would treat themselves then we would all be living in a peaceful world where all unnecessary conflicts are avoided. If we are all able to live by the rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”, we would all be more in touch with our own emotions and conscience and would be doing the right things rather than turning our backs on the right way.
When the Golden Rule becomes a way of life, Covid-19 will not linger on…