by Traci Jo Shaffer

Created on: May 21, 2009   Last Updated: May 27, 2009

Reflections on The Golden Rule

Try not to do things to others that you would not like them to do to you.

Only a saint could go through life without ever harming another. But only a criminal hurts those around him without a second thought.

Completely aside from feelings from guilt, shame or conscience, all of which can be real enough and bad. It also happens to be true that if one harms others, it can recoil on oneself.

Not all harmful acts are reversible, one can commit an act against another which cannot be forgotten. Murder is such an act. The ruin of another's life can wreck one's own. Society reacts, the prisons and the insane asylums are stuffed with people that have harmed other people.

This version of "The Golden Rule" is also useful as a test. When one persuades someone to apply it, the person can attain a reality on what an harmful act is. One answers for one what harm is. The philosophic question concerning wrong doing, the argument of what is wrong is answered at once on a personal basis; would you not like that to happen to you? No? Then it must be a harmful action and from society's viewpoint, a wrong action. It can awaken social consciousness. It can then let one work out what one should do and what one should not do.

In a time when some feel no restraint from doing harmful acts, the survival potential of the individual sinks very low.

If you can persuade people to apply this rule, you have given them a precept by which they can evaluate their own lives and for some, opened the door to let them rejoin the human race.

Try to treat others as you would want them to treat you.

This is a positive version of "The Golden Rule". Don't be surprised if someone seems to resent being told to" be good". It may be because the person has a misunderstanding of what it means.

In all times and in most places, mankind has looked up to certain values. They are called virtues.They have made a difference, the difference between chaos and a decent society.

A self- revelation can occur on the subject. It can be worked out by any person.

If one were to think over how he or she would like to be treated by others, one would evolve the human virtues. Just figure out how you would want people to treat you.

You would want to be treated justly, you wouldn't want people lying about you falsely or harshly condemning you.

You would want your friends and companions to be loyal, you would not want them to betray you.

You would want to be treated with good sportsmanship, not hoodwinked or tricked.

You would want people to be fair in their dealings with you.

You would want them to be honest with you and not cheat you.

You may want to be treated kindly and without cruelty.

You want people to be considerate of your rights and feelings.

When you're down you may want others to be compassionate.

There's so much more like, you would want to have others exhibit self-control towards you, to be tolerant of you, you would prefer people to be forgiving to you as you would be to them.You would prefer to be given respect, not insulted. You would want others to be polite to you, you may like people to admire you.You probably would like people to be friendly to you. From some people you may want love.

You could probably think of others which is all good. It requires no great stretch of the imagination for one to recognize that if we were to be treated as we would like to be treated it would be unbelievably true and quite a precept.

The way for "The Golden Rule" is a way to happiness and one can make it a much brighter day by applying such a precept.

Try to treat others as you would want them to treat you.- The Golden Rule.

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