Originally published on the Church of Scientology religious freedom blog at www.scientologyreligion.org/blog, this universal message of how to treat others is offered as a guideline to help people cope.
Some 20 percent of the world’s population is under lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and people the world over are experiencing the impact of the pandemic on their daily lives. A common thread of the Golden Rule that runs through so many of the world’s religions can ease the worry and the effects of social isolation.
In The Way to Happiness, the common-sense moral code written by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard for use by people of all religions and beliefs, this “rule” is expressed in two precepts—one expressing the “thou shalt not” side of the equation and one to clarify what “thou shalt,” which is beautifully illustrated in The Way to Happiness book on film on the Scientology Network.
Precept 19: Try not to do things to others that you would not like them to do to you.
Precept 20: Try to treat others as you would want them to treat you.
For a sampling of the Golden Rule as expressed in many religions, this compilation was created by the Los Angeles Council of Religious Leaders to encourage thoughtfulness and operating with due consideration for others:
- In Judaism, the Talmud tells the story of Rabbi Hillel who said, “What is hurtful to you, do not do to your fellow man. That is the whole Torah; the rest is just commentary.”
- In the Gospel according to Matthew we read: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
- In the Islamic Hadiths, we read: “No one of you shall become a true believer until he desires for his brother what he desires for himself.”
- In the Hindu Mahabharata: “This is the sum of duty: do naught unto others what you would not have them do unto you.”
- In the Buddhist Udanavarga: “Hurt not others in a way that you yourself would find hurtful.”
- Sikh Guru Granth Sahib taught: “I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to all.”
- And in the Gleanings of the Baha’i Faith, we read: “Lay not on any soul a load which ye would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things ye would not desire for yourselves.”
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From its beginnings, the Church of Scientology has recognized that freedom of religion is a fundamental human right. In a world where conflicts are often traceable to intolerance of others’ religious beliefs and practices, the Church has, for more than 50 years, made the preservation of religious liberty an overriding concern.
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