Spiritwalk Books
Selections of the Month
September 1999
- by HH The Dalai Lama
About Ethics for the New Millennium by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- In a modern society characterized by insensitivity to violence, ambivalence to the suffering of others, and a high-octane profit motive, is talk of ethics anything more than a temporary salve for
our collective conscience? The Dalai Lama thinks so. In his Ethics for the New Millennium, the exiled
leader of the Tibetan people shows how the basic concerns of all people--happiness based in
contentment, appeasement of suffering, forging meaningful relationships--can act as the
foundation for a universal ethics.
His medicine isn't always easy to swallow, however, for it demands of the reader more than memorizing precepts or positing hypothetical dilemmas. The Nobel Peace laureate invites us to recognize certain basic facts of existence, such as the interdependence of all things, and from these to recalibrate our hearts and minds, to approach all of our actions in their light. Nothing short of an inner revolution will do. Basic work is required in nurturing our innate tendencies to compassion, tolerance, and generosity. And at the same time, "we need to think, think, think ... like a scientist," reasoning out the best ways to act from a principle of universal responsibility. Like a merging of the care and compassion of Jesus, the cool rationality of the Stoics, the moral program of Ben Franklin, and the psychology of William James, Ethics for the New Millennium is a plea for basic goodness, a blueprint for world peace. - Brian Bruya, Amazon.com
About the Author, His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- The Forteenth Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso) is the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people. His tireless efforts on behalf of human reights and world peace have brought him international recognition. He is recipient of the Wallenberg Award (conferred by the U.S. Congressional Human Rights Foundation), the Albert Schweitzer Award and the Nobel Peace Prize. He is the author of several books which can be found in the Spiritwalk Bookstore.
What People are saying about Ethics for the New Millennium by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- From Booklist , June 1, 1999
- Fascinated by science and technology as a boy living in isolated Tibet and certain that such advances would improve people's lives, the Dalai Lama was surprised to discover how prevalent feelings of isolation and despair are in affluent and developed societies. The more acquainted he has become with the West, the more he believes that the pursuit of material comfort and wealth is not only immoral but also leads to neglect of the "inner dimension," fostering emotional and societal chaos. In his most forceful book to date, the Dalai Lama responds to this malaise--which, along with American popular culture and computer technology, is spreading around the world--by calling for a spiritual revolution free of any religious trappings. Stating bluntly that it is far more important to be a good human being than to be a religious believer, the Dalai Lama encourages his
readers to act out of concern for the well-being of others rather than indulge "our habitual preoccupation with self." This may sound simplistic, but there is nothing superficial about the Dalai Lama's argument or the ethics he defines. He possesses a deep and fluent understanding of the human psyche, and he writes about the true meaning of spirituality with unfailing wisdom and transcendent intelligence. His sophisticated yet commonsensical approach to spiritual practice does not involve rule-following; rather, it demands discipline. Learning to control negativity, the source of unethical behavior, is a "lifelong task," the Dalai Lama cautions, so practice compassion, share the wealth, aim for serenity, and don't worry about Nirvana. Donna Seaman
- Copyright© 1999, American Library Association. All rights reserved
- From Kirkus Reviews
- This call to compassionate ethics fuses 1990s universalism with the Golden Rule. The Dalai Lama (Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama, 1990) bemoans the apparent erosion of ethical behavior around the world. People have embraced materialism, foolishly thinking that possessions will make them happy; they have turned to violence (both physical and ideological) because they no longer feel connected to one another. He calls for an ethic based on human interconnection. When we truly experience one another's pain, we learn compassion, which is the basis of morality. The exiled Tibetan leader is oh-so-careful to distinguish religion from spirituality; religion may or may not encompass the value of compassion, while spirituality always must. True happiness is based on an inner peace which is unperturbed by circumstance; such peace is only attained ``when our actions are motivated by a concern for others.'' We need discipline to look beyond ourselves and past the fleeting pleasures of immediate gratification, toward a more rewarding (and permanent) quiet joy. And although we try mightily to avoid suffering, pain can engender the empathy which unites us with others and makes morality possible. 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.
- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
- Daniel Goleman
- A voice of compassion and wisdom, His Holiness the Dalai Lama presents us with a compelling credo for right living in the coming age.
- A reader from Brighton, England , August 4, 1999
- His Holiness' most powerful, cogent and compelling work yet...
Having read with great interest a lot of the Dalai Lama's other books, I found this one easily the most compelling. The language is simple and direct which has the effect of making some very complex ideas easy to understand. The Dalai Lama emerges as someone with a thoroughgoing understanding of human nature. But whereas his image is generally of someone who is limitlessly patient and benign, in this book he clearly shows that he has both depth and edge.
The Dalai Lama makes a very clear connection between human happiness and what he calls inner discipline. He also makes clear that it is not really meaningful to speak of compassion except in the context of self-restraint. This shows that Buddhism is much more than the feel-good religion it is sometimes taken for in the west. It also shows that Buddhist ethical thinking is much closer to traditional Judeao-Christian and even Catholic social teaching than one might suppose. In fact when this is taken on board it becomes much easier to understand the Dalai Lama's near insistence that people stick to the religious tradition of their own culture.
One of the most remarkable things about this book is his assertion that each of the major faith traditions are effective means of attaining human happiness. Stranger still for a major religious leader is his statement that, although religion is helpful, it is not actually essential if we are to be happy. What is essential is that we develop what he calls our basic human qualities. The first of these are love and compassion, but he also talks a lot about patience, tolerance, generosity and humility - each of which presuppose a degree of self discipline.
It is tempting to write the Dalai Lama off as an oddity - especially given the way he seems all too ready to cosy up to celebrities. But reading this book, you begin to get the feeling that there really is something going on inside his head. In none of his other books have I been able to detect the intelligence, the cogence and the incisiveness that is so obvious even through the sometimes mangled translations when you see him in the flesh.
As a would-be Catholic I can also say that the Dalai Lama's spiritual teachings are as relevant as any from within my own tradition. Is there any way the Pope could make him a Cardinal!?
- Roger Ebsen, Spiritwalk Foundation
- After a feeling of disappointment after reading the "last" Dalai Lama book, "The Art of Happiness," it was with hesitation that I bought this book. It took several months to get around to it, but I am very happy that I did. I found reading it so compelling that it was difficult to return to work after my reading period. The Dalai Lama, recognized as a world leader, is taking a stance on how life ought to be organized for the generations to come. Now a spiritual elder as well as the leader of Tibetan Buddhists, he takes a solid look at the current state of world affairs. Charitably, it could be said that he feels that there is room for improvement. Staying balanced and fair minded, he questions our relationship with Science and Economics (and $$$) and proposes a new way. "What I propose is a spiritual revolution" in the quest for human happiness. Totally ecumenical, he goes about outlining the methodology for achieving the most important goals for humanity. This requires, on a personal level, a dedication to personal inner transformation. A major aspect of this is for us to reorient away from "our habitual preoccupation with the self" and rather turn to our communities with an attitude of concern for the well-being of others. Very readable, full of the wisdom of years of spiritual practice, and recommended reading for all interested in finding a light along their path.
From Ethics for the New Millennium by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
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- ~ BRYAN REESMAN
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