Not the Same.

The Golden Rule is oft cited as a convergence point for the essences of the world's religions. "Do unto others as you would have them do to you," said Jesus. And Buddha and Confucius.

Or did they?

I'm not sure Buddha even said it, but Confucius said "Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you" (The Analects, XII:2, XV:24). Oh, that's just the Silver Rule; the Golden Rule stated negatively. Essentially, it is the same as what Jesus said.

No, it's not.

The important word here is do. Expressed by Jesus it represents action; it reminds us that love is action. God is active in the world, and his greatest act was to love the world through Jesus, in order to bring people to himself. Expressed by Confucius, accompanied by a negation, it makes virtue of inaction. Meditation and asceticism are paths to the ultimate state of existence; seamless integration with the universe which is paradoxically a non-existence.

One might turn then, and resort to a different point of convergence: unity. Eastern religions allow a unity with the "god" (ie the universe) by transcending incarnation through meditation and self-denial. But this is a different kind of unity. Christians have unity with a personal God. On the last day, when Christ returns to judge individuals, those in Christ will finally and fully be united with him. Yet we shall in some sense retain our identities, not marked by sin, but changed and redeemed, like the new bodies Christ shall give us.

Confucius say "Not all world religions are same."