For Bodymind Creativity, Problemsolving and Cooperative Relationships

"Funplay Golden Formula"

“Some people argue that the Golden Rule is the most consistent, moral teaching throughout history. Known also as the Ethic of Reciprocity, the Golden Rule is found in most religions and cultures. It can also be found in many ethical systems, indigenous cultures, secular philosophies and even in the physical sciences (the golden mean). Its omnipresence throughout history gives it tremendous moral authority.” (Interfaith Dialogue)

Christianity: “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

Buddhism: “Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.”
--- The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5.18

Confucianism: “One word which sums up the basis of all good conduct....loving-kindness. Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.”
--- Confucius, Analects 15.23

Hinduism: “This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.”
--- Mahabharata 5:1517

Islam: “Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.”
--- The Prophet Muhammad, Hadith

Judaism: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary. Go and learn it.”
--- Hillel, Talmud, Shabbath 31a

It is only when we are doing the high-quality functioning to which all the great philosophical and religious traditions have aspired (as in most of them creating equivalents of the Golden Rule) that humanity is really going to be able to come together to work and to live cooperatively together.

The Golden Rule needs to be upgraded, both so that it is comprehensible in the modern era and so that it works better. To do this, we need to consider two things: first, that the ways it is often interpreted in current vernacular overlooks the real possibility that it is directly telling us to imitate each other in the moment; and second, that it does not provide sufficient guidance regarding such essentials to modern (and ancient) human nature as humor, doing complex problemsolving, balancing the well-being of an individual with that of a group, and a process for arriving at forgiveness for mistakes. Please consider this proposed upgrade for the Golden Rule, which we will call the “funplay golden formula” for now:

The funplay golden formula is a question: “How can this be done with 2/3 imitation, more or less, and with Life-affirming intentions (Yea Life!)?”

Imitation is the foundation process by which all animals learn. In order for it to function properly, the learning animal must be paying attention, empathetic and responsive. It is in the best interests of the modeling animal to demonstrate the best behaviors of which it is capable; and, if the modeling animal is paying attention to a younger learning animal, the modeling animal benefits from the collaboration, new meaning making and rejuvenation. Unfortunately, because of the complex, haphazard nature of learning and evolution, many less functional behaviors also get passed on to future generations.

Imitation alone, of course, does not achieve improvement. In addition to imitation, what needs to be included during the other third (more or less) of our activity? What else is required to achieve improvement in the human learning process? These essential activities tend to be automatically stimulated by the imprecise, playful and demanding funplay golden formula:
a) both “us” and “I/thou” perceptions
b) individual’s unique solutions to problems
c) individuals seeking new information, both non-verbal/symbolic and verbal/symbolic
d) impulsiveness and surprises
e) humor
f) forgiveness of ourselves and each other for unintentional hurts coming out of our lack of knowledge or insight and resulting from our primitive survival-stress responses/behaviors.

One of the major improvements in the new method is that it comes in the form of a question rather than an instruction. It is initiated within ourselves and directed to our most intuitive, playful, ingenious, creative selves, asking for assistance in improving on or enjoying some aspect of life. This is a form of praying to our best sense of Self, and to Life itself – which is clarified in the phrase, “and with Life-affirming intentions” (or in the vernacular, “Yea Life!”).

The funplay golden formula also aspires to be the world’s best joke – it seems to make everyone laugh when we try it!

Two-thirds imitation, more or less! Yea Life!

;-) Warren