Somewhere in the mid 70’s Adi Da Samraj gathered with a group of people late into one night. At some point he asked the women to leave the room and continued with the men.

Advocating full adult responsibility he gave the men five simple rules.

The Five Rules for Men

Don’t bother the non-humans

Don’t bother children

Don’t bother women

Don’t bother yourself and other men

Don’t bother God

Applying this to all of humankind, not only men, the following is offered.

Seven Recommendations for Humankind

Don’t bother non-humans

Don’t bother children

Don’t bother women or men

Don’t bother yourself

Don’t bother elders

Don’t bother God

Remind each other of these things, always

 

Dictionary for “bother”

Meaning: to trouble (a person) by repeatedly disturbing; pester – to make (a person) alarmed or confused

Synonyms: harass, vex, irritate; molest, disturb. Bother, annoy, plague, tease imply persistent interference with one’s comfort or peace of mind. Bother suggests causing trouble or weariness or repeatedly interrupting in the midst of pressing duties. To annoy is to vex or irritate by bothering. Plague is a strong word, connoting unremitting annoyance and harassment. To tease is to pester, as by long-continued whining and begging.