(The Nationalist, 3 January 2003)
Religion is often the occasion, the excuse, or even the cause of social division. But it can also provide common ground for human unity. This is the case where people who profess a particular religion follow it in practice. If you can, just try to imagine what the world would be like if the adherents of the following religions practised these statements of their teaching:
Baha’i: Blessed is he who prefers his brother before himself. (Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, 71)
Buddhism: Do not hurt others in ways you yourself would find hurtful. (Udana-Varga, 5.18)
Christianity: Jesus said, ‘Love one another as I have loved you’. (John 15.12)
Confucianism: Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you. (Analects 15.23)
Hinduism: This is the sum of duty: do nothing to others which would cause pain if dome to you. (Mahabharata 5.1517)
Islam: None of you believes (completely) until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, no.13)
Jainism: In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self. (Lord Mahavira, 24th Tirthankara)
Judaism: You shall love your neighbour as yourself; I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19.18)
Native American: Respect for all life is the foundation. (The Great Law of Peace)
Sikhism: Don’t create enmity with anyone as God is within everyone. (Guru Arjan Devij 259, Guru Granth Sahib)
Taoism: Regard your neighbour’s gain as your gain, your neighbour’s loss as your own loss.
Zoroastrianism: That nature only is good when it shall not do unto another whatever is not good for its own self. (Dadistan-I-Dinik, 94.5)
Loving one’s neighbour is one of the most difficult of all challenges. Never underestimate it.