Synopses & Reviews
An unprecedented event: a beloved world religious leader proposes a way to lead an ethical, happy, and spiritual life beyond religion and offers a program of mental training for cultivating key human valuesTen years ago, in his best-selling Ethics for a New Millennium, His Holiness the Dalai Lama first proposed an approach to ethics based on universal rather than religious principles. Now, in Beyond Religion, the Dalai Lama, at his most compassionate and outspoken, elaborates and deepens his vision for the nonreligious way.
Transcending the mere “religion wars,” he outlines a system of ethics for our shared world, one that gives full respect to religion. With the highest level of spiritual and intellectual authority, the Dalai Lama makes a stirring appeal for what he calls a “third way,” a path to an ethical and happy life and to a global human community based on understanding and mutual respect.
Beyond Religion is an essential statement from the Dalai Lama, a blueprint for all those who may choose not to identify with a religious tradition, yet still yearn for a life of spiritual fulfillment as they work for a better world.
Review
PRAISE "An
impressive guide for teaching religious tolerance and respect to readers of all ages."
--Kirkus Reviews
Review
"An
impressive guide for teaching religious tolerance and respect to readers of all ages."
--Kirkus Reviews "This wise, humane book, an original work rather than a collection of talks, is an incisive statement of His Holinesss thinking on ways to bring peace to a suffering world. "
--Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
The first full-length volume of poems in a decade by former poet laureate of the United States Donald Hall In The Back Chamber, Donald Hall illuminates the evocative, iconic objects of deep memory"a cowbell," "a white stone perfectly round," "a three-legged milking stool"that serve to foreground the rich meditations on time and mortality that run through his remarkable new collection. While Halls devoted readers will recognize many of his long-standing preoccupationsbaseball, the family farm, love, sex, and friendshipwhat will strike them as new is the fierce, pitiless poignancy he reveals as his own lifes end comes into view. The Back Chamber is far from being death-haunted but rather is lively, irreverent, sexy, hilarious, ironic, and slyfull of the life-affirming energy that has made Donald Hall one of Americas most popular and enduring poets.
Synopsis
A stirring call to move beyond religion for the guidance to improve human life on individual, community, and global levels--including a guided meditation practice for cultivating key human values
Synopsis
“This book may seem strange coming from someone who from a very early age has lived as a monk in robes. Yet I see no contradiction here. My faith enjoins me to strive for the welfare and benefit of all sentient beings, and reaching out beyond my own tradition, to those of other religions and those of none, is entirely in keeping with this.
I am confident that it is both possible and worthwhile to attempt a new secular approach to universal ethics. My confidence comes from my conviction that all of us, all human beings, are basically inclined or disposed toward what we perceive to be good. . . . In view of this, I am of the firm opinion that we have within our grasp a way, and a means, to ground inner values without contradicting any religion and yet, crucially, without depending on religion.”
Synopsis
From one of the leading peacemakers of our time, a stirring call to move beyond religion for the guidance to improve human life on individual, community, and global levels
Synopsis
For thousands of years, religions have offered human beings moral guidance and meaning in life. But if—as the Dalai Lama argues—the majority of the world's population is no longer religious, where should we turn for moral guidance? In
Beyond Religion, one of the world's most renowned religious leaders and peacemakers lays out his vision for the nonreligious way—a way to lead an ethical, happy, and spiritual life. Transcending the religion wars, he outlines a system of ethics for our shared world, one that makes a stirring appeal for what he calls a “third way." Here is a ground-breaking blueprint for all those who may choose not to identify with a religious tradition yet still yearn for a life of spiritual fulfillment as they work for a better world.
Synopsis
“A book that brings people together on the firm grounds of shared values, reminding us why the Dalai Lama is still one of the most important religious figures in the world.” —
Huffington Post, “Best Religious Books of 2011”
Ten years ago, in the best-selling Ethics for a New Millennium, His Holiness the Dalai Lama first proposed an approach to ethics based on universal rather than religious principles. With Beyond Relgion, he returns to the conversation at his most outspoken, elaborating and deepening his vision for the nonreligious way—a path to lead an ethical, happy, and spiritual life. Transcending the religion wars, he outlines a system of ethics for our shared world, one that makes a stirring appeal for a deep appreciation of our common humanity, offering us all a road map for improving human life on individual, community, and global levels.
“Cogent and fresh . . . This ethical vision is needed as we face the global challenges of technological progress, peace, environmental destruction, greed, science, and educating future generations.” —Spirtuality & Practice
Video
About the Author
Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the Fourteenth 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 the recipient of the Raoul Wallenberg Congressional Human Rights Award, the Albert Schweitzer Award, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Nobel Peace Prize.
Table of Contents
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments v
Introduction ix
Part I:
A NEW SYSTEM OF SECULAR ETHICS
1. Rethinking Secularism 3
2. Our Common Humanity 21
3. The Quest for Happiness 31
4. Compassion, the Foundation of Well-Being 41
5. Compassion and the Question of Justice 57
6. The Role of Discernment 73
7. Ethics in Our Shared World 83
Part II:
EDUCATING THE HEART THROUGH
TRAINING THE MIND
8. Ethical Mindfulness in Everyday Life 103
9. Dealing with Destructive Emotions 113
10. Cultivating Key Inner Values 137
11. Meditation as Mental Cultivation 155
Afterword 185