The Golden Rule and the Seven Billion

“’Tsze-kung asked, saying, 'Is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one's life?'  The Master said, 'Is not Reciprocity (‘loving-kindness’ in one translation) such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.’”  (Analects, 15:23--a collection of the sayings of Confucius).

The principle of Reciprocity taught by Confucius is akin to the precept of the Golden Rule.  In its many forms, the Golden Rule or the ethic of human reciprocity appear to be longstanding, universal concepts found in cultural, religious, or belief systems around the world.  The exact words used to define the principle vary from source to source but the essence of the truths are fairly consistent--love or serve your neighbor as yourself and treat others the way you want to be treated.  Christians proclaim:  “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).  Jewish law says:  "What is hateful to yourself, do not do to your fellow man.” (Talmud Shabbat 31a).  Albert Einstein, in an article he wrote titled “Religion and Science,” said that “[t]he high destiny of the individual is to serve rather than to rule, or to impose himself in any other way.”  (See the article at http://www.sacred-texts.com/aor/einstein/einsci.htm.)   Finally, in what some have referred to as the Platinum Rule, many believe that we should treat others the way they want to be treated, meaning we must empathetically look to the   circumstances, beliefs, and needs of the person we seek to help and react accordingly.  Many more specific examples from Greek philosophers, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism and others could be given here to show the universality of the ethic of Reciprocity and the Golden Rule.

On June 11, 1963, John F. Kennedy gave a speech known as the “Civil Rights Speech.”  In the discourse he described how the Alabama National Guardsmen, in the face of defiance and threats, were sent to the University of Alabama to enforce a court order calling for the admission of “two clearly qualified young Alabama residents who happened to have been born Negro.”  Ultimately, he noted, peace prevailed largely because of the conduct of the students of the University  “who met their responsibilities in a constructive way.”  President Kennedy continued his powerful speech by turning the focus to the Golden Rule:  “I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents.  This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds.  It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened …. In short, every American ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated.”  (See the full speech at http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkcivilrights.htm.)

The Gravesite of John F. Kennedy who was killed serving his nation.

The essence of Kennedy’s great speech is captured in a document signed in Chicago in 1993 by over 140 prominent spiritual or religious leaders who were part of the Parliament of the World’s Religions; it is titled “Towards a Global Ethic: An Initial Declaration.”  The Declaration “represents an initial effort -- a point of beginning for a world sorely in need of ethical consensus….[and a] text offer[ed] … to the world as an initial statement of the rules for living on which the world's religions can agree.”  The following statement, which clearly commences with the Golden Rule, gives an expansive vision of how we can more nobly live and give together in the world:        

“We must treat others as we wish others to treat us. We make a commitment to respect life and dignity, individuality and diversity, so that every person is treated humanely, without exception. We must have patience and acceptance.  We must be able to forgive, learning from the past but never allowing ourselves to be enslaved by memories of hate. Opening our hearts to one another, we must sink our narrow differences for the cause of the world community, practicing a culture of solidarity and relatedness.  We consider humankind our family. We must strive to be kind and generous. We must not live for ourselves alone, but should also serve others, never forgetting the children, the aged, the poor, the suffering, the disabled, the refugees, and the lonely.”  

(See the full document at http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma/globalethic.html.)

                Look around you.  Look within you.  Do you see evidence of the Golden Rule in modern your world?  Do you happily or begrudgingly live principles of reciprocity—the idea of mutual living, relatedness, and giving back?  A recent YouTube video showed a group of Utah citizens join together to bravely rescue a motorcyclist who was trapped under a burning vehicle after a collision (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAtXDlttNxg).   No one had to take action.  The joint acts of the bystanders were voluntary and included personal dangers.  No one knew the victim personally.  But many heroic citizens, despite the risks, chose to help a helpless man—just as they would hope others would do for them in the same situation.  That selflessness epitomizes the Golden Rule and the human spirit that makes the world a better place for all of us to live.    Every day, somewhere, there are stories of people giving their time, talent, and energy to others. 

We make a mistake when we allow ourselves to get caught up in unending media alarmism that makes it look like everyone is corrupt, that all people are selfish, and, in essence, that the sky is falling.  Don’t believe it.  The Golden Rule is alive and well.  It is up to us individually and collectively to make it a centerpiece of our humanity.   For you the question is how do you live it?  Do you look for chances to help others, to reach out and make a difference?  You appreciate it when others do kind things for you so pay such kindness forward and experience the joy of making a difference.  Be kind to those who theoretically make no direct impact in your life.  Treat all with dignity and respect.  Find or create opportunities to uplift the downtrodden, bring joy to the distraught, and provide sustenance to those without means and resources.  Live with empathy and act with passion to make the world a better place.  In doing so you will find a level of joy, peace, and satisfaction that can come in no other way.  Live the Golden Rule with loving-kindness as though the seven billion people on earth right now depend upon it - because they do!