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Is there one great universal truth?

 Is there one great truth? One thing, or several things, that connect all religions? Is there one great universal truth? If there is... What is the great universal truth? 

Certainly there are themes that seem universal, that come back in many different creeds and many different religions. But really, is there one universal truth that we can glean from the world's religions and spiritual systems?


Trust and believe in something greater than yourself.

Be kind to the needy.

Be kind to the poor.

Be kind to the orphans.

Be kind to widows.

Love your neighbour as yourself.

Treat others as you'd want to be treated yourself.

Don't lie.

Don't kill.

Treat your parents well.


Have faith. Be kind. Do good. Show kindness. Be compassionate. Treat others well. Be kind to those who are less fortunate than you are. Those are themes that seem to come back time and again in the world's major religions. 


Knowing only what I know, I want to write that the one great universal truth is this: TREAT OTHERS WELL.

But really, what does it mean to treat others well?

Does that mean that we give away all our belongings to help others?

Do we forgive every bad act, do we forgive everyone? And is there a line we or others shouldn't cross?

Saying something feels true does not make it true. And it certainly doesn't mean that I'm always able to treat others well. There are days when I'm grumpy or upset, trudging through the rain, barely awake yet still expected to function. Am I expected to also be kind, and to treat others well, when I'm having trouble thinking nice thoughts about myself?


Can 'Treat others well' be called a universal truth without proof, without sources? 


If all I'm looking for is to confirm my own idea that kindness, compassion and caring about others comes back in many of the world's religions then yes, I've proven that point just by spending 10 minutes searching the internet. See the quotes below. But, I also know that we can find other themes in many holy books, and that finding quotes to confirm other common threads is also possible. However, today, let me just focus on the good, the positive, the nice and the kind... 


Try it! 

Smile at another human being. Hold a door open. Clean up your mess instead of leaving it for others.

Even the smallest acts of kindness can actually make a difference. Even the smallest acts can BE the difference between indifference and kindness for others. Start small. See how it feels. If all of us give it a try, then eventually the world will BE a better place. Change starts with one person. It starts with me, and it starts with you. 


Be the change you want to see in the world. 




As a student of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, I'm confident finding quotes from the Tanakh, the Christian Bible and the Qur'an. As for other major religions I know less about, that's where the internet comes in. First, some quotes from Judaism, Christianity and Islam:



 Judaism

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”

Provers 19:17


“You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

Leviticus 19:34


Defend the poor and the orphan; deal justly with the poor and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 82:3-4



Christianity

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:32


“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”

Luke 6:35


“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”

1 Peter 3:8-9


In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. 

Matthew 7:12



Islam

“If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor].” 

Qur'an 14:7


"And speak kindly to people." 

Qur'an 2:83


"Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him. Be good to your parents and relatives and to ORPHANS and the very poor, and to neighbours who are related to you and neighbours who are not related to you, and to companions and travellers and your slaves.”

Qur'an chapter 4: Verse 36



According to the Inspire me today article entitled Kindness: The Core of 12 Religions, kindness and compassion is also big in many other religions. I took out the religions I looked quotes up from myself and copied the others. Now, I don't know if these are quotes from holy books or from followers of the religions mentioned. I'd like to look into it and find out! Here are a few examples they give:



Bahá’í Faith

Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself.  

Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings



Buddhism

Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.

The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5.18



Confucianism

One word which sums up the basis of all good conduct….loving-kindness. Do not do to others what you do not want  done to yourself.

Confucius, Analects 15.23



Hinduism

This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.

Mahabharata 5:1517



Jainism

One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated.

Mahavira, Sutrakritanga 1.11.33



Sikhism

I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to all.

Guru Granth Sahib, p.1299



Taoism

Regard your neighbour’s gain as your own gain and your neighbour’s loss as your own loss. 

Lao Tzu, T’ai Shang Kan Ying P’ien, 213-218



Zoroastrianism

Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself. 

Shayast-na-Shayast 13.29

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