The Golden Rule
To begin this unit on People Skills, we will first go over some of the common themes when relating to people.
First we will discuss the Golden Rule.
My son summed up the Golden Rule this way…
Treat others the way you want to be treated.
You can find the Golden Rule as a guiding principle in many religions.
|
Buddhism |
Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. |
|
Christianity |
All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. |
|
Confucianism |
Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. Then there will be no resentment against you, either in the family or in the state. |
|
Hinduism |
This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you. |
|
Islam |
No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. |
|
Judaism |
What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman. This is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary. |
Now you may have already heard about the Golden Rule. But do you live by it? Do you make decisions about what to do or say based on the notion of treating others the way you want to be treated?
In the short survey we took at home, the resounding answer was, “No.”
Another question that came up…How far do you take the Golden Rule?
Peaches doesn’t like coconut, but she was given a tin of coconut cookies as a gift. Does the Golden Rule say that she should not offer anyone her coconut cookies because she would not anyone to offer her coconut cookies? Then she would be stuck with all of those cookies!
Actually, the Golden Rule is more about generalities and not about specific preferences. Indeed, she should share her cookies because she likes others to share things with her.
So you may be saying, this all sounds fine and dandy, but what’s in it for me? Why should I follow the Golden Rule?
What is in it for you can also be found as a principle in many religions…
As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap
Or, as my son puts it…
What you put out in the world comes back to you.
|
Buddhism |
It is nature’s rule, that as we sow, we shall reap. |
|
Christianity |
Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. |
|
Confucianism |
What proceeds from you will return to you. |
|
Hinduism |
Thou canst not gather what thou dost not sow; as thou dost plant the tree, so it will grow. |
|
Islam |
If you do good, you do good to yourselves. (likewise) If you do evil, you do evil to yourselves. |
|
Judaism |
A liberal man will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. |
The phrase “As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap” is a farming metaphor. “Sowing” is planting and “reaping” is collecting the harvest. So this means that if you sow corn, you will reap corn. If you sow wheat, you won’t get blueberries…you’ll get wheat.
In our day to day lives with the people around us, it means that if we put anger and nastiness out there, we will get anger and nastiness back. But if we put love and kindness out there, that is we will get back. We can’t determine how it will come back, but we just know it is on its way.
Now we can see why the Golden Rule is such a good idea. If I treat others the way I want to be treated, then I will be treated the way I want!
Tags: children, communication, education, parenting, people skills
people skills | lifeskills | January 7, 2009 | 
Comments (0)
