In this blog post, I will share what was going on in my mind when I was nine years old. You will also find the date for the next Group Healing and other healing gifts for newsletter subscribers. I hope you enjoy the accompanying images of my new paintings.
First, I would like to share an inspiring report from Sandra Griffin:
"I was in a state of emergency on Saturday evening. My white blood cell count was high, and the doctors couldn't seem to find the source of the infection. I felt much better on Sunday with your Distance Healing. My white blood cell count is normal today. I can’t express how grateful I am for your kindness. Thank you so very much!"
Read 356 reports from your friends about my services.
Universal Wisdom
"Let's play with this new tea set I just got," said Karen with a big smile.
My nine-year-old mind thought, "That's silly. I don't even drink tea." To me, playing with a tea set was equivalent to playing with baby dolls. Karen had a baby doll that you could squirt water into its mouth with a little baby bottle. Water would come out the other end and then you had to change its diapers. I didn't see the point. I had a baby sister who could do the real thing. She slept in my bedroom, and when she cried in the middle of the night, I changed her diapers. Why walk all the way down the hall to wake up my parents when I was already awake?
What I really wanted to do with my friend was to discuss the mind-expanding wisdom I had just learned from my father right before I walked over to her house. It had awakened something glorious inside me, and I was bursting to share it!
I thought about what I had learned and realized that I had an opportunity to put it to use. So, I put myself in my friend's shoes and took her suggestion: "Okay, let's play with your tea set."
Karen carefully arranged the teacups and saucers on the picnic table. She poured water from her new teapot into two teacups. We gazed into our teacups and sipped away. She replenished our cups. We gazed into them and drank more. There didn't seem to be much else to do. Except talk.
So, I ventured, "My dad told me about a great saying, 'Do to others as you would have them do to you.'"
Karen said, "Oh, that's the Golden Rule, isn't it?" As we sipped from our teacups, we had a lovely conversation about being considerate. I felt as if my little world had gotten bigger and sweeter.
Major Faiths Agree
Since I first heard about the Golden Rule, it has often popped up in my awareness, like a sweet guardian angel to help guide me. I got into the habit of putting myself in other people's shoes. I soon found out that this is a great way to open the heart and experience greater understanding, appreciation, harmony and love.
The Golden Rule is associated with Christian ethics, but this universal principle is found in most ethical traditions, some of which predate the Bible. The Parliament of the World's Religions proclaimed the Golden Rule, "We must treat others as we wish others to treat us," as the common principle for many religions. It is heartening that the Initial Declaration of this was signed by 143 leaders from the world's major faiths.
Examples
The Golden Rule has followed me around over the years. Thirteen years ago, I was doing my daily yogic sun salutations in a tiny airport chapel while waiting for my connecting flight. Next to me was a Muslim doing his daily prayers with yogic-looking bows and prostrations. On the wall was a large poster with "The Golden Rule" written in large letters in the center of a globe, with these 13 quotes:
BUDDHISM
Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.
Udana-Varga 5.18
CHRISTIANITY
In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
Jesus, Matthew 7:12
ISLAM
Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.
The Prophet Muhammad, Hadith
HINDUISM
This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.
Mahabharata 5:1517
JUDAISM
What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary.
Hillel, Talmud, Shabbat 31a
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
BAHA'I 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.
Baha'u'llah, Gleanings
JAINISM
One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated.
Mahavira, Sutrakritanga
TAOISM
Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss.
T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien, 213-218
NATIVE SPIRITUALITY
We are as much alive as we keep the earth alive.
Chief Dan George
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, pg.1299
UNITARIANISM
We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Unitarian principle
ZOROASTRIANISM
Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself.
Shayast-na-Shayast 13.29
There are many more examples of the Golden Rule from other cultures and religions, but the essence of them all is to treat others with respect and kindness. Let us not just apply the Golden Rule to human beings, but to all beings, to all creatures, and to our Mother Earth. Together, let us spread love and harmony throughout existence for all to enjoy.
Seven Healing Gifts
This month, you have the opportunity to receive several gifts. All recipients will be selected by random pick from among my newsletter subscribers. The first two gifts are Distance Healings. The other five gifts are invitations to my August 26 Group Healing. Watch for our emails. If your name is picked, you need to respond within three days so that we can send you the invitation in time.
Please note that anyone who has a Distance Healing anytime between July 1 and August 19 will automatically receive the Group Healing invitation as a bonus and does not need to let us know if they will participate.
Love,
Suzanne
© 2023 Suzanne B. Stryker, Inc. All rights reserved.
I also wish it was my experience to experience others as myself and not see “others”. What a wonderful world that would be.
Thank you, Suzanne, for the reminder that the wisdom each of us recognizes in the world is universal.
My mother died in 1960 and when I see or hear this I think of her. She always taught me the golden rule.
Thanks for this valuable sharing. I was reminded of Ramana Maharishi’s profound reply to a devotee’s question of “How should I treat others?” which was to say “There are no others”. While I wish I experienced this as direct knowledge, for now I love to remember it as often as possible. Namaste to all non-others here :-)
Thanks for this valuable sharing. I was reminded of Ramana Maharishi’s profound reply to a devotee’s question of “How should I treat others?” which was to say “There are no others”. While I wish I experienced this as direct knowledge, for now I love to remember it as often as possible. Namaste to all non-others here :-)