In his acceptance speech for the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, closed on a note of hope: "As we enter the final decade of this century I am optimistic that the ancient values that have sustained mankind are today reaffirming themselves to prepare us for a kinder, happier twenty-first century." Ten years later, on the eve of the new century ? and a new millennium ? he expanded this statement into a full-length book. Published in the UK as Ancient Wisdom, Modern World and in the United States as Ethics for the New Millennium, this book offers practical advice on how we can utilize today the fundamental moral principles that have guided human beings for thousands of years. One of the world's best known and most respected spiritual leaders, the Dalai Lama is eminently qualified to write such a book. Though himself a Buddhist monk, the Dalai Lama based this ethical treatise not on Buddhist principles, but on universal principles shared by all religions, principles that transcend the limitations of belief or unbelief. He discusses how a clear-eyed understanding of such fundamental virtues as restraint, compassion, and nonviolence are essential to creating a life that is happy and meaningful as well as a society that is just and peaceful. Martin, Powells.com

At a time and in a culture where science and technology have taken over from religious belief, when ethics are understood primarily in terms of aesthetic choice or legality, how are we to formulate moral principles to guide us in our daily lives?

The Dalai Lama believes that there are universal principles we can draw on which transcend the dilemma of belief or unbelief. With wit, gentle good sense, and with penetrating insight, he shows how the truths that have stood the test of generations of practice can provide us with the tools to live happy, fulfilled, and meaningful lives.

"A voice of compassion and wisdom, His Holiness the Dalai Lama presents us with a compelling credo for right living in the coming age." Daniel Goleman

"...[A] meditation on the capacity for compassion...a good thing to read, especially for those of us who ask: Can human beings improve themselves?" Esquire

"As His Holiness himself says, very little in this book is original. But his message is so often neglected that it sounds very fresh indeed. Simple but not simplistic." Kirkus Reviews

"All the qualities he proposes are achievable and are things we could practise daily by showing just a little extra thought for our fellow beings....Ancient Wisdom, Modern World is a clearly written and straightforward book which, I think, achieves its purpose of approaching ethics based on universal rather than religious principles." The Spectator (London)

This work presents the Dalai Lama's prescription for the spiritual expansion of humankind. Addressing what he sees as the spiritual void in modern society, the Dalai Lama calls for the necessity of virtue and greater compassion. Guidance on the techniques of contemplation is also included.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people. His tireless efforts on behalf of human rights and world peace have brought him international recognition. He is a recipient of the Wallenberg Award, the Albert Schweitzer Award, and the Nobel Peace Prize.