Invariably, all scriptures and holy books, all over the world, proclaim predominantly one universally acclaimed and applicable cosmic truth that is the title of this essay itself.
The same universal golden rule or cosmic law for good human behaviour is said in different tones and hues, carrying the same impregnated meaning of ‘ethics’ in the following oft quoted quotes which are worth quoting as they are:
“ Give to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself. “
“ Love God and love your friends and neighbours as you love yourself. “
“ What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul. “
“ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted. “
“ Greater is ‘HE’ that is in you than ‘he’ that is in the world. “
“ It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. “
All of us, depending on our background and exposure, have a certain degree of duality and of differentiability with other human beings. In order to overcome this duality in us, which is against the natural human behaviour, we need to understand the basic proclaimed golden rule to be happy and to make others around us happy.
Most of the problems in this world are man made despite the nature’s grace of bountifulness. If we try to have a proper perception of the root cause of present problems - either at micro or macro levels, or at individual or societal levels, or even problems being faced by different countries in the world - it boils down to basic things such as greed, hegemony, trying to dominate others, superiority complex etc.
To drive home the fundamental truth on the statement of the title of the essay, let’s go back to America in 1963. The then USA President, John F Kennedy, asked the American whites (at the time of the first black enrollment at the University of Alabama) to consider what it would be like to be treated as second class citizens because of the skin colour only. If whites were to imagine themselves being black and being told that they could not vote, or go to the best public school, or eat at the public hotels, or sit in the parks? He thundered in golden words, which are now etched not only in the American history but also in the world itself, “heart of the question is…whether we are going to treat our fellow black Americans as we whites want to be treated.”
We all of us are aware how our own Gandhi was treated in South Africa as a second class citizen by the whites due to their so called superiority complex of white skin (in fact a man made racial complex). The color of the body - whether black or white or brown - it’ the nature’s gift. Instead of understanding the basics of nature, we tend to violate rules (one set of rule for me and another set of rules for others). Our politicians, who get into power because of people, are the classic example of violating the golden rule and becoming a nuisance to the society.
Gandhi, before he became a ‘Mahatma’ and the Father of Nation’, rebelled against White South Africans in South Africa, as they were not treating him and local blacks properly and as they would have wanted others to do with a slavery mentality.
Britishers seized and ruled our country for more than two hundred years. Would they have liked it, had Indians or anyone else in the world would have done the same to them? Gandhi had to preach to Bririshers of this basic principle in a different context and a different situation altogether, to get freedom for us, although there were many other factors.
If we closely observe and scrutinize situations with a thinking mind with eyes open and ears to the ground, we realize that most of the unwanted situations we face either at home, or in society, or at corporate level, or even at national and international levels are due to one of the reason of not following this simple universal principle.
At homes, parents and elders expect too much from children, and children too demand much from elders. Elders and grown up children who understand and are aware of things around them need to mentally exchange their position to have a right perspective of a given situation. Children being young and immature, it is elders who need to be magnanimous in uderstanding the situations to adopt accordingly.
At a corporate level, you need to have a ‘ good governance’ or ‘corporate governance’ in place. You can not have a different set of rules and regulations to different segments - promotes, share holders, board members, employees, customers (stake holders at different levels to ensure the success of the corporate entity). While different rules and regulations at different hierarchical and operational levels for governance are understandable, what is also important to be understood by the top management and also by the others as well to appreciate the ‘give and take’ philosophical approach. The modern management now talks of treating their employees as their ‘internal customers’ because they want to be treated as fairly as they want their management to treat ‘outside customers’ with care and kid glove! When you say that customer is king and he should be ‘delighted’ to feel so by giving excellent services, it becomes obligatory on the part of management to look after employees ( in-house customers) who are responsible and go all out to make and feel customers as kings to ensure the sustainability of the company, which is in the interest of one and all. This is possible if there is a corporate consciousness and awareness to govern well.
At the national level, we cannot afford to have different and dual system for politicians, judges, leaders and common people. After all, who are all these so-called politicians, judges and leaders? They, invariably, emerge from the society we all of us are living in and, therefore, they should have humbleness and exhibit empathy and understand the basic principle of ‘reciprocity’ embedded in the golden rule: 'Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want them to do to you.'
At the international level, different countries (rich and powerful) behave differently (or indifferently!) towards other poor and weak countries. They are talking and are gripped of terrorism, severe climactic changes that is likely affect the very existence of this planet itself, nuclear dominance, poverty, education etc. which are nothing but the outcome of sheer exploitation of poor and weak countries with ulterior motives. The guilt of rich countries is thoroughly 'exhibited' and exposed in so called gesture of extending aid, after exploiting them mercilessously.
One of the root cause for all the ills, discrepancies and dissonance existing in different societies all over the world, briefly referred here in above, are due to the accumulated consequence of our failure to understand the cosmic and universal reality existing in the title of essay itself, and also due to lack of humbleness and sincerity to practice it, even after understanding!
Having understood the significance of the concept, let's chant loudly the following ‘mantra’ for reaffirmation:
Treat others only in ways that you are willing to be treated in the same exact situation. To apply it, you will be humble enough to imagine yourself in the exact situation and place of others on the receiving end of action.
Let’s ask ourselves a very simple question. Is it possible to ingrain in us such a workable philosophy in today’s highly competitive world? The answer has to be firm and assertive YES, and why not?
Just by being empathic and trying to increase the EQ (Empathy Quotient, which is a part of Emotional Quotient) with full awareness, it is possible.
When EQ is good for our heart, soul and health; and also for people around us, why not increase our EQ score and make this planet a better place to live in, howsoever a small contribution from our side.
