An Analysis Of THE GOLDEN RULE (It appears to be true in all cultures.) Hinduism -- This is the sum of duty: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you. (Mahabharata 5:1517) Buddhism -- Hurt not others in ways you yourself would find hurtful. (Udana-Varga 5:18) Confucianism -- Surely it is the maxim of loving kindness: Do not unto others what you would not have them do unto you. (Analects 15:23) Taoism -- Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain and your neighbor's loss as your own loss. Zoroastrianism -- That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself. (Dadista-i-dinik 94:5) Judaism -- What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman. That is the entire law; all the rest is commentary. (Talmud, Shabbat 31a) Christianity -- All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12) Islam -- No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. GREAT VIRTUES AND PRINCIPLES SHARED BY ALL RELIGIONS AND CULTURES VIRTUES --- Truth --- Trust --- Love --- Knowledge --- Wisdom --- Distinction --- Goodness --- Honor --- Responsibility --- Decency --- Fairness --- Presence --- Giving --- Persistence --- Creativity --- Freedom --- Mastery --- Kindness --- PRINCIPLES Be honest. The truth shall set you free. The Golden Rule. Honor thy Father and Mother. Speak truth; act truly. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Love thy neighbor. Conquer with love. As ye sow, so shall ye reap. A man is known by his deeds, not by his religion. Not words or detachment, but action. Better to examine the self; better to rule the spirit. Wisdom is more than riches. Man does not live by bread alone. Blessed to forgive. Be slow to anger. Judge not. Start when young to seek wisdom. THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE VIRTUES AND PRINCIPLES OF KNOWLEDGISM by Alan C. Walter These virtues and principles have proven to be as valid in Argentina, South Africa, India, Japan, and Europe as they are in the United States and Canada. They have demonstrated effectiveness for Hindus, Moslems, and Buddhists, or any other religious or cultural group as they have for Christians. As the author of the materials and discoveries, I have now taught our virtues, principles, and techniques to clients from almost all countries of the known world. Many of the presentations have been at international conferences, so there were participants that came from many nations, cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds, and philosophies. At each conference, I observed that participants took ownership of these virtues and principles as the fundamental causes for the foundation to building a successful, prosperous, and happy life. But what was more astounding to me was that they not only valued these virtues and principles and took ownership, they almost all stated, "I would like to acknowledge your refreshing new presentation of these virtues and principles, as well as getting me to re-inspect and re-evaluate the importances of what I have always known, but had been making less of. These virtues and principles have always been a part of our culture, our philosophy, and what we value." Participants from the following countries and their cultures indicated where their virtues and principles were located: England -- Many of the participants claim these virtues and principles are part of their school codes. Malaysia -- Participants stated that these teachings are found in the Koran. Morocco -- Participants claim that these teachings are to be found in all educated families. Portugal -- Several high-level executives stated, "We have always realized these virtues and principles were of immense value, but your material gave us a practical method of applying and living them." Spain -- "This was how our grandparents used to act." Greece -- "The great philosophers Aristotle, Socrates, and Plato all taught us these basic, workable virtues and principles." Japan -- Participants recognized these virtues and principles as also belonging to the teachings of Buddha and the Bushido code of the Samurai. China -- Participants were well aware that the virtues and principles taught were concepts contained within the teachings of Confucius and Mencius. Argentina -- Participants were surprised at how many virtues and principles we used that were part of their cultures. Russia -- Participants exclaimed that was why they had the difficulties that were destroying so many of their cultures. They had gotten away from these virtues and principles, and that was how the old Russia of eighty years ago believed. India -- Participants were amazed at how our material paralleled the philosophies and wisdom contained in Hinduism, and how the knowledge contained in the Bhagavad-Gita had been brought into the 21st century. Philippines, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Brazil, and Venezuela -- All stated that their countries were all beginning to re-embrace these virtues, principles, and teachings, and that deep down they have always been a vital part of their cultures. Australia, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, and the West Indies -- All claimed that their cultures and nations were seeing a re-embracing of these virtues, principles, and teachings and that these are what were the basic foundations of their traditions and character. Europe -- The participants from the many cultures and nations, almost as one, announced that these virtues, principles, and teachings are central to their philosophies and cultures. None of this should really have been so astounding. After all, I have been a consultant, counselor, teacher, and interviewer of some of the world's most successful, prosperous, powerful, and knowledgeable leaders, executives, authors, athletes, and mentors for great cultures, philosophies, nations, and individuals, both past and present. My key intentions were to get the true answers of these people to the questions: "What has worked consistently for you? "What do you value the most? "What is the most important virtue for happiness?" After all, I was investigating the people from the most powerful and enduring cultures and philosophies of the world. That they all shared the identical virtues and principles that were universal, self-evident, and self-empowering concepts. I would have been more startled had they been different. But the answer to what worked, what was the most valued, the most important universally came down to one answer that towered over all other answers. That answer to what was the most workable, valuable, and important virtue, principle, or attribute for others was HONESTY. The participants agreed that: Without honesty, there is no honor. Without honesty, nothing or no one can be trusted or relied upon. Without honesty, nothing or no one is worthy of power, reward, respect. Without honesty, there is no reason to exist, only to pretend. Without honesty, there is no one to be friendly and close to, only to be alone or distant. Without honesty, a family is devoid of respect and honor. Without honesty, you are not a person to be relied upon; you are a fraud and to be suspect. Without honesty, there is no freedom, just entrapment to your lies. Without honesty, there is no truth, only deception. Without honesty, there is no decency, only indecency. Without honesty, there is no pure knowledge, only false knowledge. Without honesty, there is no purity of spirit, only materialism. Without honesty, there is no pure, true love, only thinly-disguised hate and resentment. Without honesty, there is no pure integrity, only disintegration and individuation. Without honesty, there is no pure Mastery, only incompetence. Without honesty, there is no pure Trust, only distrust. Without honesty, there is no pure Pleasure, only pain. Without honesty, there is no pure Happiness, only depression. What impressed me most about the tens of thousands of people who have answered the above questions is not that they were Japanese, Chinese, Indians, or Americans; they were specific individuals that had the same basic values, dreams, aspirations, and visions about life and the future as we did. If we could increase the honesty level of people, we could be a force for good; and if we could get others to help others to regain their honesty, then we would transcend all religions, philosophies, nationalities, and cultures and make this a much better world. ALAN C. WALTER 3 May 1995 Copyright © 1995 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED