I always thought that for as long as you follow the "Golden Rule", you are safe. What is the "Golden Rule" you may ask.
The "Golden Rule" is:
1) "Hurt not others with that which pain YOURself" (Udanavarga, v.18)
2) "Treat others as YOU would like them to treat YOU" (Luke 6:31, New English Bible)
3) "Do not do to others what YOU would not want them to do to YOU" (Analects, Book xii, 2)
4) "Let not any any man do unto another any act that He wish not to be done to HIMself by others, knowing it to be painful to HIMself" (Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, cclx.21)
5) "What is hateful to YOURself do not do to your fellow men. That is the whole of Torah" (Babylonian Talmud, Shabbath 31a)
However it is enough? Is the "Golden Rule" enough when interacting with people of different cultures, faiths and beliefs?
After today session, I realized this is not always enough. If you notice, in the "Golden Rule" the main concept or idea is to treat others how YOU want to be treated. Let me emphasize on the YOU here. I supposed in this statement, we assume that YOU and the other share the same orientation and definition of certain virtues. In the case of politeness, we are assuming that what is polite to you is polite to the other. However, as highlighted in the previous session, this is not the case.
So let me propose a variation of the "Golden Rule".
"No man is a believer unless he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself" (Prophet Muhammad SAW)
I guess there are a few interpretations to this. But how I choose to see this to treat others how others want to be treated.
Some virtues are indeed shared universally however not all are the same. Thus the importance of learning other culture, understanding the orientation of others and respecting and being sensitive of other cultures and belief. I guess this is the very reason why this module is so relevant.
Hi Hafiz
ReplyDeleteI especially like the image at the end of your entry. I thought it aptly sums up what you have discussed.
Like you mentioned, I guess most conflicts arises when we do not understand the orientation of others or/and respect other cultures and belief. This is why I think this module allow me to be more culturally aware as well.
Guang Yi
I like the references you make for the commandments of the different religions. This actually is one of the more fundamental roots that explains the origins of being polite.
ReplyDeleteIf you think about it, every religiion teaches the same principle: they all teach you how to be a good person. The question simply is and always been, what does it mean to be a "good person".
This is interesting and engaging. I haven't thought about the kind of link between the golden rule and the politeness principles we observe. You're right that we all want to observe the rule or principles or at least it's desirable for us to observe the rule or principles, but how to do that can vary across cultures.
ReplyDelete