The Golden Rule and the Charter for Compassion
I received a message recently from the Charter for
Compassion announcing that they plan to celebrate a world-wide day of awareness
of the Golden Rule on April 5, 2020.
Here is their message:
As an ambassador we ask you to help us promote Golden Rule
Day to your networks.
You can share the following:
our website:
www.GoldenRuleDay.org
Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/goldenruleday
YouTube page:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4bC35qqDMrrab7jKu7eEcw/videos?view_as=subscriber
You can share the videos posted there, and any content you
may find in our facebook page.
We are celebrating Golden Rule Day on April 5th, and anyone
can join in and watch all the fun and interesting videos we'll be showing.
Hope you will join.
Thank you
I agreed to spread the message. I hope you will join
in sharing the message of the Golden Rule. You can find more details about this
movement and about this special day at the website mentioned above.
May I add that I have signed on to the Charter for
Compassion? As a charter member of this movement, I received the note referred
to at the beginning of this message.
Hope you will join this circle of compassion.
But I should first tell you what the Golden Rule is, what
the Charter for Compassion is and who is behind this movement.
First, what is the Golden Rule?
The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as you
would like to be treated by others. Or, put it in a negative sense, not doing
to others what you would not like done to you.
This principle is enshrined in all religions and traditions
for millennia. But the name Golden Rule to refer to this principle seems to
have originated in the 17th century in England. It was endorsed by leaders of
major faiths of the modern world in 1993 by being included in the “Declaration
towards a Global Ethic”. The exact words were: “We must treat others as we wish
others to treat us.”
There are websites which list examples of this Golden Rule
in all the major faiths. The ones I am most familiar with follow:
“What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is
the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn.” Hillel, The
Elder. Babylonian Talmud
“Do unto others what you want them do to you.” Matthew
7:12 The New Testament
“Do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.”
Maha Bharata Shanti Parva 167:9
Thiruvalluvar, the famous Tamizh poet, whose book Kural has
been translated into all the major languages of the world, has devoted an
entire chapter (Chapter 32) to this topic. The title of this chapter is “Innaa
Saiyamai”, which means “Not hurting others”. Verse 316 in this chapter reads as
follows: “Do not do to others what you know has hurt yourself.”
Next, what is the Charter for Compassion and who is behind
this movement?
Karen Armstrong, the celebrated scholar of world religions,
noted that Compassion is emphasized in all world traditions. Yet, extremist
views have overshadowed the application of this simple idea of compassion which
is the essence of the Golden Rule. Therefore, she started a movement to
encourage the application of the Golden Rule all over the world. She wanted to
create a Charter for Compassion. Organizers of TED programs supported her
efforts initially and now this has become a world movement. Several cities have
adopted this Charter and initiated programs based on Compassion.
At this time in history when there is more intolerance, violence and
negative news cycles, let each one of us counteract their influence by
spreading positive messages of Compassion and Golden Rule to bring harmony and
well-being to all. We owe it to the future generation.
Here are a few links to the Charter for Compassion movement. These links are
worth sharing with members of our family and friends – particularly the younger
generation.
https://www.ted.com/talks/karen_armstrong_makes_her_ted_prize_wish_the_charter_for_compassion
https://charterforcompassion.org/
When I thought about what we can do now, particularly during
this pandemic and the health-related global crisis, here are a ideas to
consider:
1. Send a message of Gratitude to the Health Care Workers
all over the world. They have put their own lives at risk to serve their fellow
human beings.
2. Send a message of loving-kindness and a prayer to support
all the mothers who are giving birth during this pandemic without the
support of their families.
3.Send a message of loving-kindness and compassion for all
those patients who are seriously ill and, in the ICU, fighting their battle
alone without the presence of their family
4.Send a message of loving-kindness and hope to the
immigrants in limbo in several countries (I am told there about 22 million of
them) who are left alone to fend for themselves in this moment of crisis
5. Finally and most importantly, do something tangible,
something within our ability, to back up our wishes and prayers.
Thank you for reading