Golden Rule of Spirituality

 Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

The Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, Verse 32. It is often considered the "Golden Rule" of spiritual empathy and universal compassion.

## The Shloka

आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन ।

सुखं वा यदि वा दु:खं स योगी परमो मत: ॥ ३२ ॥

## Transliteration

ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṁ paśyati yo ’rjuna

sukhaṁ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṁ sa yogī paramo mataḥ [1] 

## Meaning

"I regard them to be perfect yogis who see the true equality of all living beings and respond to the joys and sorrows of others as if they were their own, O Arjuna." 

## Key Concepts Breakdown

* Ātmaupamyena (आत्मौपम्येन): By comparison with oneself, or treating others as oneself.

* Sarvatra Samam Paśyati (सर्वत्र समं पश्यति): Sees the same essence and equality everywhere.

* Sukhaṁ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṁ (सुखं वा यदि वा दु:खं): Whether in happiness or in distress. 

* Lord Krishna explains that the highest level of spiritual realization is reached when you no longer see a division between yourself and others. Because you feel your own joys and pains, you intuitively understand that others feel theirs the exact same way. Therefore, you naturally treat every living being with the same love, care, and respect that you extend to yourself.

You can find this same 'Universal Golden Rule of empathy' echoed in every religion.

For example, 

Jesus said "Do unto others, what you want others to do unto you",

And 

"Love thy neighbour" etc.

This shloka is so universal golden rule, that it is found in every religion.

Things such as these are called "sanatana dharma", they are universally applicable.

The other aspects of religions, like what and how to do a ritual, style of prayer, way of dressing, name of God etc, these vary