"Like the bee gathering honey from the different flowers,
the wise person accepts the essence of the different
scriptures and sees only the good in all religions."
This site is dedicated to the concept that when one studies different religious traditions, one is struck by the repeated similarities of basic truths.
Below is an example of the kind of comparative religious quotes one will find on other pages. The following quotes are oft times refered to as the "Golden Rule" that flows through belief systems around the globe:
 "He
should not wish for others that which he doth not wish for himself, nor
promise that which he doth not fulfill."
Baha'i
Faith
Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 266 |
| Hurt
not others in ways you find hurtful.
Buddhism
Tripitaka, Udnana-varga
5.18 |
| Therefore
all things whatsoever you desire that men should do to you, do you evenso
unto them; for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Christianity
Matt. 7:12 |
| Tzu-Kung
asked: "Is there one principle upon which one's whole life may proceed?"
The Master replied, "Is not Reciprocity such a principle? ...what you do
not yourself desire, do not put before others."
Confucianism
Analects of Confucius Book XV, Chapter XXIIl (Legge Translation 1861) |
| Try
your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and
you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence.
Confucianism
Mencius VII.A.4 |
| This
is the sum of the Dharma: do not unto others that which would cause pain
if done to you.
Hinduism
Mahabharata 5:1517 |
| Not
one of you is a believer unless he desires for his brother that which he
desires for himself.
Islam
Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 13 |
| What
is hurtful to yourself do not to your fellow man. That is the whole
of the Torah and the remainder is but commentary.
Judaism
Talmud, Shabbat 31a |
| A
man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated.
Jainism
Sutrakritanga 1.11.33 |
| All
things are our relatives; what we do to everything, we do to ourselves.
All is really One.
Native American
Black Elk |
| The
sage has no interest of his own, but takes the interests of the people
as his own. He is kind to the kind; he is also kind to the unkind:
for Virtue is kind. He is faithful to the faithful; he is also faithful
to the unfaithful: for Virtue is faithful.
Taoist
Tao Teh Ching, Chapter 49 trans. by John C. H. Wu |
| An
it harms none, do as 'ye will.
Wiccan |
| That
nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever
is not good for itself.
Zorastrian
Zend Avesta, Dadistan-i-dinik 94:5 |
Browse the links below to see the commonality of the various traditions on other subjects. May we focus on those things that connect us, and realize that differences are the unique expressions we use to praise and explain God. May our wider understanding lead to tolerance and peace in all our interactions.
