The Ethic Of Reciprocity otherwise known as The Golden Rule is found in the scriptures of nearly every religion. It is considered a condensation in one statement of all longer lists of ethical dos and don'ts.

TOTEG adopted it as the basic ethical guidline for our people in 1984, with the understanding that it must be intelligently and cautiously applied since there is no absolute standard as to what is helpful or harmful to everyone or everything.

The following is the way the Ethic of Reciprocity is phrased in many of the major religions of the world.

African Traditional Religions : One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts. [ Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria) ]

Bah�'� Faith : And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself. [ Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, 30 ]

Buddhism : Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. [ Udana-Varga 5,1 ]

Christianity : All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. [ Matthew 7:1 ]

Confucianism : Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. Then there will be no resentment against you, either in the family or in the state. [ Analects 12:2 ]

Hinduism : This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you. [ Mahabharata 5,1517 ]

Islam : No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. [ Sunnah ]

Judaism : What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman. This is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary. [ Talmud, Shabbat 3id ]

Shinto : "The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form"

Taoism : Regard your neighbor�s gain as your gain, and your neighbor�s loss as your own loss. [ Tai Shang Kan Yin P�ien ]

Zoroastrianism : That nature alone is good which refrains from doing another whatsoever is not good for itself. [ Dadisten-I-dinik, 94,5 ]