Tanenbaum Center for Intrreligious Understanding
  
 

Not one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.

Islam
Have an idea for a shared vision topic? Let us know!
 

stay in touch

 
 Keep up with all the latest news and events. 
 

sign up now! 

 

Shared Visions is an ongoing project that reminds us how the world's religions share many core values. At Tanenbaum, we work to put interreligious understanding into practice. And we have found that an important part of understanding is to learn - not only how and why we differ - but also, how we are similar.

This project highlights excerpts from different faith communities' holy texts showing the common threads weaving between different faith communities.



2008 resolutions


To Listen...
One must talk little and listen much.  (African Proverb)


To renounce hatred...
Let us live happily, without hate amongst those who hate. Let us dwell unhating amidst hateful men.  (Buddhism, Dhammapada 197-200)


To follow the Golden Rule...
Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.  (Christianity, 1 Corinthians 10.24)


To share...
Do not seek to benefit only yourself, but think of other people also. If you yourself have an abundance, do not say, "The others do not concern me, I need not bother about them!"  (Native American, Yamana Eskimo Initiation)


To honor work...
Set your heart upon your work, but never on its reward. Work not for a reward; but never cease to do your work.   (Bhagavat Gita, Hinduism)


To be kind...
Enjoin kindness and forbid iniquity  (Islam, Qur'an 31.17)


To forgive...
Subvert anger by forgiveness.  (Jainism, Samanasuttam 136)


To care for the needy...
Clothe the naked, visit the sick, comfort the mourner, bury the dead. (Judaism, Talmud, Sota 14a)

To Be Honest...
Follow honesty without fail.  (Shinto, Oracle of Amaterasu at the Kotai Shrine) 


To practice peace...
No one shall cause another pain or injury;
All mankind shall live in peace together.
(Sikhism, Adi Granth, Sri Raga, M.5, p. 74)

To be selfless...
Embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness.  (Lao Tzu, Taoism)


To prosper...
Let one practice here good industry; let one make the needy prosperous.
(Zoroastrianism, Avesta Visparad 15.1)


back to top

 

charity

Our shared humanitarian impulse - to reach out across the globe to care for those in need - is a deep-seated human drive. And it finds voice in our diverse religious traditions:

Baha'i:
For in ... teachings [of all religions] we seek the spirit of charity and love to bind the hearts of men together. The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 328

Buddhism:
There are three kinds of persons existing in the world: one is like a drought, one who rains locally, and one who pours down everywhere.

How is a person like a drought? He gives nothing to all alike, not giving food and drink, clothing and vehicle, flowers, scents and unguents, bed, lodging and light, neither to recluses and Brahmins nor to wretched and needy beggars. ...

How is a person like a local rainfall? he is a giver to some, but to others he gives not. ... How does a person rain down everywhere? He gives to all, but they recluses and Brahmins or wretched, needy beggars; he is a giver of food and drink, clothing...lodging and lights. In this way a person rains down everywhere. Itivuttaka 65 

Christianity
[A]s a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their want, so that their abundance may supply your want. 2 Corinthians 8:14

Confucianism
The accumulation of wealth is the way to scatter the people, and the letting it  be scattered among them is the way to collect the people. Great Learning 10:9

Hinduism
Let the rich man satisfy one who seeks help
and let him look upon the long view:
For wealth revolves like the wheels of a chariot,
Coming now to one, now to another. Rig Veda 10:117:5

Islam
Every person's every joint must perform a charity every day the sun comes up: to act justly between two people is a charity; to help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it is a charity; a good word is a charity; every step you take in prayers is a charity; and removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity. Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi

Jainis
Charity--to be moved at the sight of the thirsty, the hungry, and the miserable and to offer relief to them out of pity--is the spring of virtue. Kundakunda, Pancastikaya 137

Judaism
"Ye shall walk after the Lord your God [Deutreonomy 13:4]. But how can a man walk after God who is a devouring fire? [Deuteronomy 4:24]. It means, walk after God's attributes: clothe the naked, visit the sick, comfort the mourner, bury the dead. Talmud, Sota 14a

Judaism & Christianity
Blessed is he who considers the poor; the Lord delivers him in the day of trouble. Psalm 41:1

Shinto
Those who do not abandon mercy will not be abandoned by me. Oracle of the Kami of Itsukushima

Sikhism
He who earns by his own exertions,
And gives something out of his earnings in charity,
Nanak, has found the way to the Lord. Guru I, Sarang Rag

Taoism
Relieve people in distress as speedily as you must release a fish from a dry rill [lest he die]. Deliver people from danger as quickly as you must free a sparrow from a tight noose. Be compassionate to orphans and relieve widows. Respect the old and help the poor. Tract of the Quiet Way

back to top

forgiveness

Baha'i
Let not your heart be offended with anyone. If someone commits an error and wrong toward you, you must instantly forgive him. The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.453.

Buddhism
Hatreds never cease through hatred in this world, through love alone they cease. This is an eternal law. Dhammapada 3-5

Christianity
Then Peter came up and said to him, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.' Matthew 6:14

Confucianism
The superior man tends to forgive wrongs and deals leniently with crimes. I Ching 40: Release

Hinduism
It has been said that the continuation of species is due to man being forgiving. He, indeed, is a wise and excellent person who has conquered his wrath and shows forgiveness even when insulted, oppressed and angered by a strong person...Forgiveness is holiness and by forgiveness is it that the universe is held together. Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Section XXVIII

Islam
The best deed of a great man is to forgive and forget. (Shiite) Nahjul Balagha, Saying 201

Jainism
Subvert anger by forgiveness. Samanasuttan 136

Judaism
Who takes vengeance or bears a grudge acts like one who, having cut one hand while handling a knife, avenges himself by stabbing the other hand. Jerusalem Talmud, Nadarim 9:4

Sikhism
Where there is forgiveness, there is God himself. Adi Granth, Shalok, Kabir, p. 1372

Taoism
Show endurance in humiliation and bear no grudge. Treatise of Response and Retribution

back to top


peacemaking

Baha'i
We call upon the manifestations of the power of God...to bestir themselves and do all in their power that haply they may banish discord from this world. Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p 130 [14]

Buddhism
bodhisattvas (enlightened beings) of great strength delight in reconciliation of conflict. Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti 8

Christianity
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9

Hinduism
May we agree in mind and thought, may we not struggle with one another, in a spirit displeasing to the gods! Atharva Veda VII, 52.2

Islam
Make not Allah's name an excuse in your oaths against doing good or acting rightly or making peace between persons. Qu'ran 2:224

Judaism
The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace. Talmud, Gittin 59b

Secular Humanism
There lies before us, if we choose, continual progress in happiness, knowledge, and wisdom. Shall we, instead, choose death, because we cannot forget our quarrels? We appeal as human beings to human beings: Remember your humanity, and forget the rest. Bertrand Russell, Russell-Einstein Manifesto

Sikhism
Now is the gracious Lord's ordinance promulgated, no one shall cause another pain  or injury; all mankind shall live in peace together. Adi Granth, Sri Raga, M.5

Taoism
If problems are accepted, and dealt with before they arise, they might even be prevented before confusion begins, in this way peace may be maintained. Tao-te Ching 31

back to top


education

Baha'i
The spiritually learned are lamps of guidance among the nations, and stars of good fortune shining from the horizons of humankind. Abdu'l-Bahá, The Secret of Divine Civilization, page 33

Buddhism
A good, all-round education, appreciation of the arts, a highly trained discipline and pleasant speech; this is the highest blessing. Sutta Nipata, verse 261

Christianity
Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7

Confucianism
The principle of learning consists in preserving man's clear character. In giving new life to the people and in dwelling in perfection, or the ultimate good. Ta Hsueh (The Great Learning)

Hinduism
The raft of knowledge ferries even the worst to safety. Bhagavad Gita 4:36

Islam
The learned are the heirs of the Prophets and the Prophets do not leave an inheritance of dirhams and dinars, but only of knowledge. he who acquires  knowledge acquires a vast portion. Hadith of the Prophet Mohammed

Judaism
[Wisdom] is a tree of life to those who grasp her, and whoever holds on to her is happy. Proverbs 3:18

Sikhism
True learning induces in the mind service of mankind. Adi Granth, Raga Asa, page 356

Taoism
For these four things are most useful to men, wisdom (combined with) courage, vision (combined with) knowledge, wealth (combined with) generosity, and good words (combined with) good deeds. Adarbad Mahraspandan, The Teachings of the Magi

back to top


the golden rule

Baha'i
And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself. Lawh'i 'Ibn'i Dhib, "Epistle to the Son of the Wolf" 30

Buddhism
Hurt not others in ways 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. Matthew 7:12

Confucianism
Do not unto others what you do not want them to do to you. Analects 15:13

Hinduism
This is the sum of duty: do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you. The Mahabharata, 5:1517

Islam
Not one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. Fortieth Hadith of an-Nawawi 13

Jainism
A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated. Sutrakritanga 1:11:33

Judaism
What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor: that is the whole of the Torah; all the rest of it is commentary. Talmud, Shabbat 31a

Native American
Respect for all life is the foundation. The Great Law of Peace

Sikhism
Treat others as thou wouldst be treated thyself. Adi Granth

Taoism
Regard your neighbor's gain as our own gain and your neighbor's loss as your own loss. T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien

Zoroastrianism
That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself. Dadistan-I-Dinik, 94:5

back to top


respect

Baha'i
Be kind to all people, love humanity, consider all mankind as your relations and servants of the most high God. Abdul-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 73

Buddhism
The bodhisattva [enlightened being] should adopt the same attitude towards all beings, his mind should be even towards all beings, he should not handle others with an uneven mind, but with a mind which is friendly, well-disposed, helpful, free from aversions avoiding harm and hurts, he should handle others as if they were his mother, father, son, or daughter. Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines 321-22

Christianity
Love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this all men will know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 14:34-35

Confucianism
The man of perfect virtue, wishing to be established himself, seeks also to establish others; wishing to be enlarged himself, he seeks also to enlarge others. Analects 6:28:2

Hinduism
What sort of religion can it be without compassion? You need to show compassion to all living beings. Compassion is the root of all religious faiths. Basasvanna, Vachana 247

Islam
Be kind to parents, and the near kinsman, and to orphans, and to the needy, and to the neighbor who is of kin, and to the neighbor who is a stranger, and to the companion at your side, and to the traveler, and to [slaves] that your right hands own. 4:36-37

Judaism
Thou shalt neither vew a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Leviticus 22:21

Shinto
Regard heaven as your father, earth as your mother, and all things as your brothers and sisters. Oracle of the Kami of Atsuta

back to top

back to special programs home 



© 2008, Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding.  Read our privacy policy and terms of use .
If you're having trouble viewing this site, please contact us at web at tanenbaum dot org.

Web Development by Webdrafter.com, Inc