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The Oakville Beaver, Tuesday D ecem ber 23, 2003 - A 3 Golden Rule can be found in scriptures of most religions (Continued from page A1) focuses on generosity to others is the perfect time to do it. At other times of the year the council is busy developing a medical and police protocol that will help authorities better understand their different clients -- from beliefs and customs, to dress and philosophies. It's at work on a youth festival slated for Oct. 13, 2004 to bring all Oakville high school students together to learn about each other's faiths. Local churches and faith organizations arrange exchange visits with others. The council's members believe life can be richer if there's not a melting pot, but a mosaic, if there's more than mere tolerance, but rather appreciation of diversity. They've also found the best way to build trust and open the door to education is to find a common ground and that, they say, is the Golden Rule. In North America, Christian culture says the Golden Rule is Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. However, just like the message of the Christmas season, it's not unique to Christianity. In fact, early in the council'* own existence, faith leaders searched their own faith literatures -- and others -- and found that the Golden Rule can be found in most religions. The Islamic faith says "Not one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." The Baha'i faith states, "Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself." Even the Yoruba Proverb from an African tradi tional religion states, "One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on him self to feel how it hurts." "We discovered some of the teaching was exact ly the same. It was related to caring for one anoth er," said Rev. Morar Murray-Hayes of Maple Grove United Church. "We (the council) decided early on not to focus on being a political activist group, but we wanted to learn about one another and work together peaceful ly and respectfully of each other's traditions," said Murray-Hayes. "At this time of year, from our experience of learning together what ethical principles we share in common, to appreciate and treasure one another as individuals as well as representatives of faith com munities," said Murray-Hayes. "We believe the ideal of the Golden Rule could help other groups of Oakvillians to work together to respect each other and appreciate each other's faith perspectives," said the reverend. Laila Eiriksson, of the Baha'i of Oakville and president of the Halton Multicultural Council, said, "We discovered that most faiths have something that's commonly referred to as the Golden Rule that forms the basis of their belief system." "There's a kernel of truth and sameness that comes out of each one," said Eiriksson. Another commonality of faith groups is their struggle to get the faith-related message out at this time of year as commercialism runs riot. Rabbi Paul Sidlofsky of the Shaarei-Beth El Congregation said the stronger people feel about themselves and their own faith, the more open they'll be to exploring and understanding others. At the time when society takes a break to recog nize faith and family time, it's a time when the Golden Rule can be applied to the most basic of social units -- the family, which the religious lead ers said can be anything, but peaceful sometimes. "This is the time of year that makes most sense to talk about this because it's a time when people are most focussed on it, but it should not be forgotten as soon as it's over," said Sidlofsky. "We encourage other groups to participate with the objectives of the Interfaith Council," said Darsham Arora of the Halton Sikh Cultural Association. "It's been quite an education and the most signif icant development is that of trust for each other and that we have more in common than different," said Abdul Qayyum Mufti of the Islamic Circle of North America and the Al-Falah Islamic Centre in Oakville. The following is a list compiled by the Interfaith Council of Halton of other examples of the Golden Rule found in the scriptures of other major religions: What is hateful to you, do not do to your neigh bour. Judaism. Rabbi Hillei, 1st century CE. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Judaism and Christianity. Bible, Leviticus 19.18 Not one o f you is a believer until he loves fo r his brother what he loves for himself. Islam. Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 13 Do to others what you would have them do to you. Christianity. Bible, Matthew 7.12 A man should wander about treating all crea tures as he himself would be treated. Jainism. Sutrakritanga 1.1133 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 One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself. This is the essence of morality. All other activities are due to selfish desire. Hinduism. Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva 113.8 Tsekung 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 do to others what you do not want them to do to you. " Confucianism. Analects 15.23 Comparing oneself to others in such terms as "Just as I am so are they, just as they are so am I, " he should neither kill nor cause others to kill. Buddhism. Sutta Nipata 705 One who you think should be hit is none else but you. One who you think should be governed is none else but you. One who you think should be tortured is none else but you. One who you think should be enslaved is none else but you. One who you think should be killed is none else but you. A sage is ingenuous and leads his life after comprehending the parity o f the killed and the killer. Therefore, nei ther does he cause violence to others nor does he make others do so. Jainism. Acarangasutra 5.101-2 The Ariyan disciple thus reflects, Here am I, fond of my life, not wanting to die, fond of pleasure and averse from pain. Suppose someone should rob me o f my life... it would not be a thing pleasing and delightful to me. If I, in my turn, should rob of his life one fond of his life, not wanting to die, one fond of pleasure and averse from pain, it would not be a thing pleasing or delightful to him. For a state that is not pleasant or delightful to me must also be to him also; and a state that is not pleasing or delight ful to me, how could I inflict that upon another? As a result of such reflection he himself abstains from taking the life of creatures and he encourages others so to abstain, and speaks in praise o f so abstaining. Buddhism. Samyutta Nikaya v.353 A certain heathen came to Shammai and said to him, "Make me a proselyte, on condition that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot. " Thereupon he repulsed him with the rod which was in his hand. When he went to Hillel, he said to him, "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor: that is the whole Torah; all the rest of it is commen tary; go and learn. " Judaism. Talmud, Shabbat 31a "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two command ments depend all the law and the prophets. " Christianity. Bible, Matthew 22.36-40 Barrie Erskine · Oakville Beaver MUSIC MAKER: The Oakville Place Shopping centre was filled with the sounds of Christmas thanks to Tim Park and his John Knox Christian School bandmates last Thursday. Peter C. McCusker · Oakville Beaver CHRISTMAS MUSIC: The flute section of the Grade 9 Iroquois Ridge High School band performs during the school's Christmas Concert at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. Barrie Erskine · Oakville Beaver IT'S A WRAP: Kim LaRonde, Marketing Director for Oakville Place, watches Lauren Michell and Inda Voruganti from St. Mildred's Lightboume School wrap presents at the Big Sister booth in Oakville Place. The girls were volunteering their time as part of their Community Service for their school. The Regional Municipality of Halton A Partnership That Works! R EQ U EST FO R PR O PO SA L B id d o c u m e n ts fo r th e s e rv ic e s listed b e lo w , a d d re s s e d to th e M a n a g e r o f P u rc h a s in g , 1151 B R O N T E R O A D , O A K V IL L E , O N L 6 M 3L1 w ill b e re c e iv e d until 2 :0 0 p .m . O a k v ille tim e o n th e s p e c ifie d clo s in g d a te . B id d o c u m e n ts c a n b e s e e n o r o b ta in e d th ro u g h th e P u rc h a s in g D iv is io n o f th e C o rp o ra te S e rv ic e s D e p a rtm e n t, s a m e a d d re s s a s a b o v e , te le p h o n e 9 0 5 - 8 2 5 - 6 0 0 0 , e x te n s io n 7 0 1 1 . If lo n g d is ta n c e c h a rg e s apply, dial toll fre e 1 -8 6 6 -4 H A L T O N ( 1 -8 6 6 -4 4 2 -5 8 6 6 ) . D o c u m e n ts will b e a v a ila b le fo r p ick u p on a n d a fte r T h u rs d a y D e c e m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 0 3 , a n d th e re is a n o n -re fu n d a b le d e p o s it o f $ 2 6 .7 5 (in c lu d e s G S T ). B id d e rs w h o re q u e s t d o c u m e n ts to b e s h ip p e d fro m th e P u rc h a s in g D e p a rtm e n t m u s t in c lu d e a h a n d lin g fe e o f $ 1 0 .7 0 (in c lu d e s G S T ) fo r th is s e rv ic e . B id d o c u m e n ts a re a ls o a v a ila b le fo r d o w n lo a d fro m H a lto n 's w e b s ite a t h ttp ://w w w .re g io n .h a lto n .o n .c a /b id s fo r a n o n re fu n d a b le d e p o s it o f $ 1 0 .7 0 (in c lu d e s G S T ). U n d e r n o c irc u m s ta n c e s w ill fa c s im ile o r la te b ids b e a c c e p te d o r c o n s id e re d . L o w e s t o r a n y bid n o t n e c e s s a rily a c c e p te d . H a lto n R e g io n re lie s o n th is a d v e rtis e m e n t to p ro v id e p u b lic n o tic e o f th is b u s in e s s o p p o rtu n ity a n d is n o t o b lig a te d to n o tify a n y p o te n tia l b id d e rs in a n y o th e r m a n n e r. A V is io n T o m o rro w le a r n in g e n v ir o n m e n t a n d v is it o r s to O a lc v ille . a n d W in t e r F o r A n in t e r a c t iv e __________________ & W in te r s k a te w a y O A K V I L L E f o r c h ild r e n A n a t u r a l B u t t e r f ly P a r k S k a t e w a y a t th e W a te rfro n t. C o n s id e r th is u n iq u e G if t Each donation of $ 5 0 o r $100 will be acknow ledged with a permanently inscribed* paver in the park. Donations for trees and benches are also possible, please call 9 0 5 -8 2 5 -2 2 4 5 for more information. Tax deductible receipts will follow. ` some restrictions apply P-181-03 PRO VISIO N OF PER SO N A L SU P PO R T W O R K E R TR A IN IN G CLOSING : THU R SD A Y JA N U A R Y 22, 2004 A. U RB AN SK I * C o m m is s io n e r, S o c ia l a n d C o m m u n ity S e rv ic e s A . M IN D c N H A L L C P P O , M a n a g e r o f P u rc h a s in g S e rv ic e s D o n a t i o n F o r m (pay by visa, cheque, cash) N am e _____________________________ Total Enclosed $ ________ A d d r e s s ______________________________ C it y __________________ Postal C od e _________________________ Tel: ___________________________ Fax:________________ Inscription: (limited to 1 2 spaces each line, including periods, maximum of 2 lines) w w w .re g io n .h a lto n .o n .c a /b id s O ffice Closure: Halton Region's municipal offices will be closed from December 24th 2003 through January 1st 2004. Mail to: Broote Botterfly Foundation, 2368 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville L6L 1H5. For more information Tel: 905-825-2245 Fax: 905-825-8622 email: brontebutterfly@butterflys.ca Thank yo u to s o m e o f th e 2 0 0 3 B u tte r fly P a rk D o n o rs: Please call 905-825-6000 / toll free 1-866442-5866 if you require information about Regional services over the holidays. rr Joyce S avoline C hairm an H alton R egion Elias, Susan E llis, Dave F algarw ood Public School G auvin, G ilb e rt & Helen Gladys Speers Public School Goodenough, A lan In v id ia ta Homes Jackson, C athy Jessup, M aggie K now les, G ail K w ira n t, B ellinda La Senza 150 M acdonald, S hirley M cC arlie, Diane M cC arville, M ichael 1151 B ro n te R o ad , O a k v ille , ON L6 M 3 L1 9 0 5 -8 2 5 - 6 0 0 0 Toll f r e e : 1-8 6 6 -4 HALTON ( 1- 8 6 6 -4 4 2 - 5 8 6 6 ) TTY: 9 0 5 -8 2 7 - 9 8 3 3 o r v is it u s a t: w w w .r e g io n .h a lto n .o n .c a