TOV Isn’t a Secret

TOV describes something that is beautiful and pleasing to the Creator’s eyes because it protects life, preserves life, makes life more functional and improves the quality.

TOV isn’t a secret. It is definitely a universal value. What would happen if members of the following religions made these their highest values and top priorities?

● You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Judaism - Leviticus 19:18)

● What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary. (Judaism - Talmud, Shabbat 31a)

● Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do even so to them – for this is the law and the prophets. (Christianity - Matthew 7:12)

● And as you would that men should do to you, do also to them likewise. (Christianity - Luke 6:31)

● And don't do what you hate. (Christianity - Gospel of Thomas 6)

● None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself. (Islam - Number 13 of Imam "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths)

● A state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another? (Buddhism - Samyutta NIkaya v. 353)

● Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. (Buddhism - Udana-Varga 5:18)

● This is the sum of Dharma [duty]: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you. (Brahmanism - Mahabharata, 5:1517)

● Regard your neighbor’s gain as your gain, and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss. (Taoism - Tai Shang Kan Yin P’ien)

● This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you. (Hinduism - Mahabharata 5:1517)

● That nature alone is good which refrains from doing to another whatsoever is not good for itself. (Zoroastrianism - Dadisten-I-dinik, 94,5)

● Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others. (Zoroastrianism - Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29 5)

● Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you. (Confucianism - Analects 15:23)

● Tse-kung asked, 'Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct for life?' Confucius replied, 'It is the word 'shu' -- reciprocity. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire. (Confucianism - Doctrine of the Mean 13.3)

● 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. (Confucianism - Mencius VII.A.4)

● Therefore, neither does he [a sage] cause violence to others nor does he make others do so. (Jainism - Acarangasutra 5.101-2)

● In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self. (Jainism - Lord Mahavira, 24th Tirthankara)

● A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated. (Jainism - Sutrakritanga 1.11.33)

● And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself. (Bahá'í Faith - Epistle to the Son of the Wolf. 1)

What do you think?

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