Thanks to http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/2010/09/hillel-and-buddhism.html for this picture comparing the Rabbi to Buddah

from http://thinkexist.com/quotes/rabbi_hillel/ thank you very much:

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?”

Lets break this down in terms of social media:

1. “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? “  Bookmark, subscribe to, thumbs-up, tweet,+1, like and other wise promote yourself.
2. ” If I am not for others, what am I?”  If you only read your own stuff you are a one dimensional personality: share the best of what you read, hear, tweet, stumble upon, like or otherwise benefit from already screened and previewed by you with your unique perspective.
3. “And if not now, when?”  never ask when again.  If it is on your mind, when is always now, ASAP, in this, the fastest moving world ever.

More from http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/2010/09/hillel-and-buddhism.html:

“Like the Buddha and Greek philosophers, Hillel taught the Golden Rule well before the time of Jesus. When asked to recite the Torah while standing on one foot, Hillel stood on one foot and said,

“That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary; go and learn.”

He is also known as the author of two popular sayings:

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And when I am for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?”

Although not a Buddhist, Hillel had teachings (such as the above) and a calm demeanor that was very Dhamma-like. The exhortation to love peace emanated from Hillel’s most characteristic traits – from that meekness and mildness which had become proverbial, as is seen from the saying:

“Let a man be always humble and patient like Hillel, and not passionate like Shammai” (Shab. 31a; Ab.R.N.xv).

Hille’s gentleness and patience are illustrated in an anecdote which relates how two men made a wager on the question whether Hillel could be made angry. Though they questioned him and made insulting allusions to his Babylonian origin, they were unsuccessful in their attempt. Hillel often debated with Shammai and on several issues, Hillel demonstrated a more open and compassionate mind: Admission to Torah study. The House of Shammai believed only worthy students should be admitted to study Torah. The House Hillel believed that Torah may be taught to anyone, in the expectation that they will repent and become worthy. Hillel wanted Judaism to be open to converts and Shammai wanted the faith open only to those born into the ethnicity and religion. Judaism tended to be more accepting of Shammai on this issue. In general, the House of Shammai’s positions were stricter than those of the House of Hillel. On the few occasions when the opposite was true, the House of Hillel would sometimes later recant their position; similarly, though there are no records of the House of Shammai as a whole changing its stance, a few individuals from it are recorded as deserting a small number of the more stringent opinions of their school, in favour of the viewpoint of the House of Hillel. http://www.dhammawiki.com/.”

Here is another pretty harsh but very true quote from Hillel:

“He who refuses to learn deserves extinction.”  ouch!

In 2012 be aware of these things according to nobody else but me, but still true:

• You have a voice
• So does everyone else
• You have a reputation
• So does everyone else
• It is one world
• There are no secrets
• Nobody gets away with anything anymore
• The book of life is being written
• Be humble
• Wake up
• Learn
• survive.

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