Observances

Shared Visions is an ongoing project that reminds us how the world's religions share many core values. At Tanenbaum, we work to put interreligious understanding into practice. And we have found that an important part of understanding is to learn - not only how and why we differ - but also, how we are similar.

This project highlights excerpts from different faith communities' holy texts showing the common threads weaving between different faith communities.

To learn more about interreligious understanding, please visit Tanenbaum at https://www.tanenbaum.org/resources/shared-visions

Shared Visions of Charity
Our shared humanitarian impulse - to reach out across the globe to care for those in need - is a deep-seated human drive. And it finds voice in our diverse religious traditions:

Baha'i:
For in ... teachings [of all religions] we seek the spirit of charity and love to bind the hearts of men together. The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 328

Buddhism:
There are three kinds of persons existing in the world: one is like a drought, one who rains locally, and one who pours down everywhere.

How is a person like a drought? He gives nothing to all alike, not giving food and drink, clothing and vehicle, flowers, scents and unguents, bed, lodging and light, neither to recluses and Brahmins nor to wretched and needy beggars. ...

How is a person like a local rainfall? he is a giver to some, but to others he gives not. ... How does a person rain down everywhere? He gives to all, but they recluses and Brahmins or wretched, needy beggars; he is a giver of food and drink, clothing...lodging and lights. In this way a person rains down everywhere. Itivuttaka 65

Christianity
[A]s a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their want, so that their abundance may supply your want. 2 Corinthians 8:14

Confucianism
The accumulation of wealth is the way to scatter the people, and the letting it  be scattered among them is the way to collect the people. Great Learning 10:9

Hinduism
Let the rich man satisfy one who seeks help
and let him look upon the long view:
For wealth revolves like the wheels of a chariot,
Coming now to one, now to another. Rig Veda 10:117:5

Islam
Every person's every joint must perform a charity every day the sun comes up: to act justly between two people is a charity; to help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it is a charity; a good word is a charity; every step you take in prayers is a charity; and removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity. Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi

Jainis
Charity--to be moved at the sight of the thirsty, the hungry, and the miserable and to offer relief to them out of pity--is the spring of virtue. Kundakunda, Pancastikaya 137

Judaism
"Ye shall walk after the Lord your God [Deutreonomy 13:4]. But how can a man walk after God who is a devouring fire? [Deuteronomy 4:24]. It means, walk after God's attributes: clothe the naked, visit the sick, comfort the mourner, bury the dead. Talmud, Sota 14a

Judaism & Christianity
Blessed is he who considers the poor; the Lord delivers him in the day of trouble. Psalm 41:1

Shinto
Those who do not abandon mercy will not be abandoned by me. Oracle of the Kami of Itsukushima

Sikhism
He who earns by his own exertions,
And gives something out of his earnings in charity,
Nanak, has found the way to the Lord. Guru I, Sarang Rag

Taoism
Relieve people in distress as speedily as you must release a fish from a dry rill [lest he die]. Deliver people from danger as quickly as you must free a sparrow from a tight noose. Be compassionate to orphans and relieve widows. Respect the old and help the poor. Tract of the Quiet Way