1. Thou shalt recognize and value empathy in yourself and in others.
Empathy is a biological reaction in our bodies in response to the condition of other humans or of other sentient beings. In our bodies, we may feel as others feel. Empathy is the physical basis of our emotional attachment to others.
2. Thou shalt be compassionate.
Based on empathy, kindness and compassion are calls to action to recognize and aid in the suffering of other beings and the preservation of the planet.
3. Thou shalt be just and encourage and support justice in the world.
Like compassion, this is a call to act in ways that contribute to justice and fairness in the world. We are all one race. We are all one family.
4. Thou shalt love.
Love is the greatest gift and it can be offered to those with whom we are closely bonded or to others in the world for whom we act with compassion.
"Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." (Paul's letter to the Corinthians)
5. Thou shalt take responsibility for one's own thoughts, feelings, beliefs and behaviour. Thou shalt not take responsibility for the thoughts, feelings, beliefs and behaviour of others.
Others do not have the power to make us feel, think or believe anything. We do not have the power to make others feel, think or believe anything. Each of us owns our own mind and are responsible for it. Specifically, feelings are transient, psychological conditions that reflect a subjective, internal, temporary reaction at a point in time but will change with new experience and reason.
6. Thou shalt strive for peace.
"If there is to peace in the world, there must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations, there must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities, there must be peace between neighbours.
If there is to be peace between neighbours, there must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home, there must be peace in the heart."
(Lao Tse)
7. Thou shalt strive for truth.
The search for truth includes curiosity, learning, questioning, evaluating and continual change and growth. Truth is relative. No one source or revelation holds absolute truth.
8. Thou shalt say what you mean and mean what you say.
Speaking your truth and standing by what you say affirms who you are to yourself and others. It requires courage.
9. Thou shalt believe only what you deem to be true in your own mind based on reason through consideration of experience, evidence, observation and analysis while keeping an open mind to new information and experience.
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or doctrines. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. Believe only what you yourself judge to be true." (Kalama Sutta)
"I will not believe in my heart what I will not accept with my reason." (Jay Moore)
10. Thou shalt accept the mysteries: the mysteries of origins, the mysteries of consciousness, the mysteries of the unknown, the mysteries of science, the mysteries of life and the mysteries of death.
Despite the efforts of science and religion to explain these mysteries, we are faced with them whenever we try to address unanswered questions in the material world and in the non-material world.
6 April 2018
