From Me to We

I was in Los Angeles bookstore on my way home from a business trip to Israel for SanDisk when I picked up the book, Me to We: Finding Meaning in a Material World.   So much of the book resonated with me as I my journey's to the Israel had motivated reflection on religious traditions while at the same time, I was immersed in fast paced world of technology.  

The book describes something called minga, a concept they learned about on a visit to Equador.    A minga, is a call to action for the community to come together and help.  It was something like a barn raising, something that agriculture communities in America used to do when forging new communities as they settled the west.  The authors juxtaposed efforts of communities coming together to help each other with the mindset of individualism in which each person is focused on what's what's in it for them.  In someways, the Little Lending Library my husband and I put up represents a mini-minga.   The original frame of the library was built by my friend's husband.  The roofing materials were bits of scrap wood provided by a friend.   Books shared in the library are available to anyone in the community.  Anyone can leave a book to share.

I was also struck by an outline in the "Me to We" book of how every faith the authors had come across shared basic tenents of service, compassion, and love for others. 

• Hinduism: "This is the sum of duty: do not to others wht would cause pain if done to you."  (Mahabaratha 5:1517)
• Taoism:  "regard your neighbors's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." (T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien, 213-18)
• Native spirituality:  "We are as much alive as we keep the earth alive." (Chief Dan George)
• Buddism: "Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." (Udana-Varga 5.180
• Islam: "Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself." (the Prophet Muhammed, Hadith)
• 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)
• Chrisitianity:  "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)
• 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)
• 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'liah, Gleanings)
• Jainism: "One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated."  (Mahavira, Sutravitanga)
• Unitarianism:  "we affirm and promote respoect for the interdependence of all existence of which we are a part."
• Zoroatrianism:  "Do not unto otheres what is injurious to yourself."  (Shayast-na-Shayast 13.29)