FROM RAVEN'S NEST Nov 21, 2014

FROM RAVEN'S NEST Nov 21
Interfaith Study
Dr. Raven Dolick MsD Nov 20, 2014
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 We have been focusing a lot here on the positive aspects of interfaith studies. We need to remember that, for many, when faced with something t...hat appears different (e.g.: a religion, race, culture), they fear it. From that fear arises also the need to boost the ego by claiming that they are “better than” or their religion, culture is “better than” somehow “more correct, more right” than the way the “other” people are living, believing. Fear, combined with an overlay of self-proclaimed righteousness, has been a fertile ground for much of humanity’s sad history.
Differences between various religions and philosophies need not divide and separate, but can instead enrich our lives and deepen our capacity to love. Any minister can do their part to eliminate religious intolerance and fear by helping those they interface with to find understanding, respect, and a common ground to interact.

Here is my prime example:
For Comparative Religion, and continuing the theme of Interfaith, it is appropriate to briefly review the many similarities of teachings throughout the world’s belief systems. The texts are divided up to relate to familiar subjects.

The Golden Rule:
bahaiBaha'i Faith: "He should not wish for others that which he doth not wish for himself, nor promise that which he doth not fulfill."

Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 266

buddhistBuddhism: “Hurt not others in ways you find hurtful.”

Tripitaka, Udnana-varga 5.18

christianChristianity: “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.”

Matt. 7:12

ConfusicianConfucianism: “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." “

Analects of Confucius, Book XV, Chapter XXIIl (Legge Translation 1861)

ConfuciousConfucianism: “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.”

Mencius VII.A.4

HinduismHinduism: “This is the sum of the Dharma: do not unto others that which would cause pain if done to you.”

Mahabharata 5:1517

IslamIslam: “Not one of you is a believer unless he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.”

Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 13

JudaismJudaism: “What is hurtful to yourself do not to your fellow man. That is the whole of the Torah and the remainder is but commentary.”

Talmud, Shabbat 31a

JainismJainism: “A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated.”

Sutrakritanga 1.11.33

Native AmericanNative American: “All things are our relatives; what we do to everything, we do to ourselves. All is really One.”

Black Elk

TaoTaoist: “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.”

Tao Teh Ching, Chapter 49 trans. by John C. H. Wu

WiccaWiccan: “An it harms none, do as ye will.”

ZorastrianZorastrian: “That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself.”

Zend Avesta, Dadistan-i-dinik 94:5

Peace:

BahaiBaha'i Faith: "I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content. Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness."

Abdu'l-Baha Paris Talks, p. 29

BuddhistBuddhism: “Victory breeds hatred, for the defeated live in pain. Happily live the peaceful, giving up victory and defeat.”

Dhammapada 201

christianChristianity: “Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of G d.”

Matthew 5:9 King James Version

ChristianJudaismChristianity & Judaism: “Do you want long life and happiness? Strive for peace with all your heart.”

Psalm 34: 12, 14 King James Version

ChristianJudaismChristianity & Judaism: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace.”

Isaiah 52:7 (partial verse)

ConfucianismConfucianism: "Through what can the Empire be settled? Through unity. Who can unite it? One who is not fond of killing."

Mencius 1.A.6

ConfuscianismHinduism: “As rivers flow into the ocean but cannot make the vast ocean overflow, so flow the streams of the sense world into the sea of peace that is the sage.”

Bhagavad Gita 2.70

OmHinduism: “Peace be to earth and to airy spaces! Peace be to heaven, peace to the waters, peace to the plants and peace to the trees! May all the gods grant me peace! By this invocation of peace may peace be diffused! By this invocation of peace may peace bring peace! With this peace the dreadful I appease, with this peace the cruel I appease, with this peace all evil I appease, so that peace may prevail, happiness prevail! May everything for us be peaceful!”

Atharva Veda 19.9.14

IslamIslam : “And make not Allah by your swearing (by him) an obstacle to your doing good and guarding (against evil) and making peace between men, and Allah is hearing and knowing.”

Qur'an 2.224

IslamIslam: “And if they lean to peace, lean you also to it; and put your trust in Allah; surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing.”

Qur'an 8:61

JudaismJudaism: “The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace.”

Talmud, Gittin 59b

JudaismJudaism: “Rabbi Baruqa of Huza often went to the marketplace at Lapet. One day, the prophet Elijah appeared to him there, and Rabbi Baruqa asked him, "Is there anyone among all these people who will have a share in the World to Come?" Elijah answered, "There is none." Later, two men came to the marketplace, and Elijah said to Rabbi Baruqa, "Those two will have a share in the World to Come!" Rabbi Baruqa asked the newcomers, "What is your occupation?" They replied, "We are clowns. When we see someone who is sad, we cheer him up. When we see two people quarreling, we try to make peace between them."”

Talmud, Ta'anit 22a

KhandaSikhism: “Now is the gracious Lord's ordinance promulgated, No one shall cause another pain or injury; All mankind shall live in peace together, Under a shield of administrative benevolence.”

Adi Granth, Sri Raga, M.5, p. 74

TaoTaoism: “Tao invariably takes no action, and yet there is nothing left undone. If kings and barons can keep it, all things will transform spontaneously. If, after transformation, they should desire to be active, I would restrain them with simplicity, which has no name. Simplicity, which has no name, is free of desires. Being free of desires, it is tranquil. And the world will be at peace of its own accord.”

Tao Te Ching 37

Seek Within:
bahaiBaha'i Faith: "O SON OF SPIRIT! I created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself down to poverty? Noble I made thee, wherewith dost thou abase thyself? Out of the essence of knowledge I gave thee being, why seekest thou enlightenment from anyone besides Me? Out of the clay of love I molded thee, how dost thou busy thyself with another? Turn thy sight unto thyself, that thou mayest find Me standing within thee, mighty, powerful and self-subsisting."

Baha'u'llah, The Hidden Words, Arabic #13

BuddhismBuddhism: “If you think the Law is outside yourself, you are embracing not the absolute Law but some inferior teaching.”

Maja writings of Nichinen Daishonion Vol. 1, pg.3-5

ChristianChristianity: “The kingdom of G d cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of G d is within you.”

Luke 17:20-21 King James Version

ConfuscianismConfucianism: “The Superior Man seeks within himself. The inferior man seeks within others.”

Analects 15:20

HinduHinduism: “Bright but hidden, the Self dwells in the heart. Everything that moves, breathes, opens, and closes Lives in the Self. He is the source of love and may be known through love but not through thought. He is the goal of life. Attain this goal! The shining Self dwells hidden in the heart. Everything in the cosmos, great and small, Lives in the Self. He is the source of life, Truth beyond the transience of this world. He is the goal of life. Attain this goal!”

Mundaka Upanishad 2.2.1-2

ShintoShintoism: “The deity is immanent in man and man is inherent in the deity; there is neither the divine nor the human; there is no difference in essence at all between them.”

KhandaSikhism: “This is a wonderful, unique discourse: The living self is the image of the Supreme Being. It is neither old nor a child; Neither it suffers pain, nor in death's snare is caught; It is not shattered nor dies; In all time it is pervasive. It feels not heat nor cold; Neither has it friend nor foe; It feels not joy nor sorrow: All is its own; to it belongs all might. It has neither father nor mother; Beyond the limits of matter has it ever existed. Of sin and goodness it feels not the touch-- Within the heart of each being it is ever awake.”

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