It's a short, concise, statement of philosophy. The Golden Rule, as presented by Jesus, rattled the way people thought. For the better.

Throughout history we have had powerful guiding philosophies come from the practiced religions. In fact, many are very consistent:

What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man… Judaism Talmud, Shabbat.

This is the sum of duty: do naught unto others what you would not have them do unto you. Hinduism, Mahabharata 5,1517.

Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. Buddhism, Udana-Varga 5,1.

Very old, and very good philosophies for both personal and social life. Centuries after these teachings were given there was a new philosophy of living taught:

Do unto others as you would have them do to you. Jesus, Luke 6:31.

The difference between the previous guidance and the “Golden Rule” is immense. It is, in the finest sense, the evolutionary difference between the “Old” Testament and the “New” Testament.

Imagine that you are serious in your spiritual life and are guided every day by the thought “what is hateful to me, I shall not inflict upon someone else.” It is likely that during the course of that day you would not commit a crime or deliberately take an action against someone. Good for society.

But what is the mental focus? What is the image, the guiding thought, in the mind? Is it not the many “hateful things” that you do not want? We know that what is held in the mind attracts in similar kind. Even if the thought is “I will not steal from someone” it is the theft that is the dominate concept. In effect, the thinking is tuned to what is not desired, thus strengthening it, rather than the opposite, what is perhaps truly desired.

That is the difference. Jesus turned the old way of thinking and living upside down! Successful life is not achieved by avoiding painful things, but instead by doing what you would like. Treat other people the way you want to be treated. Period. How do you wish to be treated? Kindly. Courteously. Respectfully. Honestly… the list goes on.

So now you go through the day with desirable conditions ruling your thinking. Law of Attraction guarantees that like will be attracted, thereby bringing into your experience kindness, courtesy, respect, honesty…

What a difference! Think about the positive and you do not have to think about the negative. Would you rather have positive experiences every moment or negative experiences? Duh.

Now, granted, there are those who may be in a period of deep negative expectation and are unable to conjure a positive thought. No problem (pun intended.) Hold in mind a less painful/harmful/miserable thought. That’s still better.

It is still amazing that after two thousand years there is intense resistance to this simple yet profound way of life. (Amazing, but understandable – there are those who intend to inflict suffering on others but in no way want to experience the same. Therefore, abolish that pesky universal law!) What Jesus introduced was a powerful emphasis on the individual as responsible for his/her experience. That’s a lesson still being learned.

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