Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World
    Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World
    Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World
    Ebook192 pages3 hours

    Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World

    By Dalai Lama

    4/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    A guide to leading an ethical, happy, and spiritual life beyond religion and cultivating key human values, from a beloved world religious leader.

    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 Religion, 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.

    “Best Religious Books of 2011”Huffington Post“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.”—

    “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.”—Spirituality & Practice  
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOpen Road Integrated Media
    Release dateDec 6, 2011
    ISBN9780547645728
    Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World
    Author

    Dalai Lama

    His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and a beacon of inspiration for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. He has persistently reached out across religious and political lines and has engaged in dialogue with scientists in his mission to advance peace and understanding in the world. In doing so, he embodies his motto: “My religion is kindness.”  

    Read more from Dalai Lama

    Related to Beyond Religion

    Related ebooks

    Self-Improvement For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      MUSLIM & BUDDHIST

      Jan 24, 2023

      SUNDOWN TURNS TO DUSK as my forehead touches the rug beneath me. I stand, clasp my left wrist with my right hand, and intone the Arabic verses of the Qur’an that are recited daily by over a billion Muslims around the world. With my prayers, I’m unify

      3 min read

    • Article

      What A Good Horse You Are!

      Jan 24, 2023

      What A Good Horse You Are!
      4 min read

    • Article

      Beginner’s Mind

      Nov 19, 2019

      ACCORDING TO BUDDHISM, our basic problem is not sin. It’s more like a giant mistake. Because we misunderstand the true nature of ourselves and what we experience, we create poisons that cause ourselves and others endless suffering. These are the many

      3 min read

    • Article

      The Art Of Dying

      Feb 4, 2019

      The Art Of Dying
      7 min read

    • Article

      Let’s Just Call It Love

      Jan 22, 2019

      “It’s uncertain, isn’t it?” —AJAHN CHAH DEAR FRIENDS, the important question is not the future of Buddhism and its message. What’s important is the widespread realization of wisdom and compassion. It is clear that no amount of outer technological dev

      3 min read

    • Article

      Bill O’donnell

      Sep 1, 2019

      Bill O’donnell
      6 min read

    • Article

      Building Blocks of Belonging

      Sep 14, 2021

      Building Blocks of Belonging
      11 min read

    • Article

      The View From Here

      Jan 24, 2020

      The View From Here
      5 min read

    • Article

      The View From Here

      Jan 24, 2020

      The View From Here
      5 min read

    • Article

      Making the CULT

      Nov 21, 2022

      Making the CULT
      12 min read

    • Article

      Introduction

      Jul 21, 2020

      Introduction
      2 min read

    • Article

      On the Side of Our Better Angels

      May 21, 2019

      IT’S A JOY TO CELEBRATE His Holiness the Dalai Lama in this issue of Lion’s Roar. It also makes me sad. Reading about the Dalai Lama—his openness, humbleness, and authenticity—and his message of compassion and human fellowship only highlights how ber

      2 min read

    • Article

      Q&A

      Jan 1, 2023

      You believe we are at a moment of heightened importance in the history of humanity. How so? We are facing a perfect storm of crises that will require our united efforts to overcome. Climate change is accelerating at breakneck speed; citizens are losi

      6 min read

    • Article

      Historical Trauma, Covid-19 And The Mind

      Feb 13, 2021

      FORMER president Thabo Mbeki once said democratic South Africa had always been viewed as an optimistic and selfless nation but, due to proliferating sociopolitical problems, the optimism has declined to the point of social despair. Moreover, the free

      1 min read

    • Article

      Historical Trauma, Covid-19 And The Mind

      Feb 13, 2021

      FORMER president Thabo Mbeki once said democratic South Africa had always been viewed as an optimistic and selfless nation but, due to proliferating sociopolitical problems, the optimism has declined to the point of social despair. Moreover, the free

      1 min read

    • Article

      Historical Trauma, Covid-19 And The Mind

      Feb 13, 2021

      FORMER president Thabo Mbeki once said democratic South Africa had always been viewed as an optimistic and selfless nation but, due to proliferating sociopolitical problems, the optimism has declined to the point of social despair. Moreover, the free

      1 min read

    • Article

      Visions Of A Hopeful Future

      Apr 5, 2023

      Visions Of A Hopeful Future
      5 min read

    • Article

      Krista Tippett

      Dec 3, 2016

      Krista Tippett
      2 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Beyond Religion

    4/5

    84 ratings15 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      I have always had a strong desire to put the world around me, visible and invisible, in perspective and understand my relation to it. Yet I never fully agreed with any one religion’s doctrines or beliefs. The Dalai Lama wrote this wonderful book on universal ethics and compassion that gave hope for all of us as human beings. It gives me comfort that it is OK for me to not formally associate with a religion and be perfectly content with just being me and loving all other beings around me. I really enjoyed this book, I think it a seed to help plant a better world!
    • 4/5
      A solid argument for ethics expanding beyond religious boundaries. The case for inner values bore heavy similarities to stoicism, which peaked my interest. The Dalai Lama is a very good philosopher and his genuine interest in science and deeply compassionate nature make the journey through this book a joy.
    • 5/5
      This is a really tremendous little book. If a person is absolutely positive that one particular "brand" of religion has all the correct answers, then this is probably not a book for them. But for anyone who has questions and searches for peace within the questions, this book is a great one.
    • 4/5
      Really amazing. Most of the other reviews on here already hit the nail on the head in terms of the specifics of content, so I'll just add my brief $0.02. If you've read a lot of HHDL's previous writings you won't find a whole lot of very new thoughts. However, if you're looking for somewhere gentle to start then this is the book to go for. It's shorter and more succinct that some of his other works while also conveying many of the core messages well.
    • 4/5
      In the first half of this book, the Dalai Lama puts forth a very interesting discussion of secular ethics. He believes that externally-imposed, religion-based ethics are on the wane. Instead, he suggests that people need to adopt a system of internal ethics based on our recognition of each other’s humanity. Once we recognize that all humans desire love and the absence of suffering, we can connect to each other on this most basic human level and formulate a system of ethics based upon compassion. He demonstrates how such a system includes not only compassion, but justice.The second half of the book is a series of mindfulness meditation exercises designed to help people focus on their emotions and be able to tap into their compassion. This section is very basic. The meditation exercises are, of course, based on Buddhist exercises, but given the book’s theme of ‘Beyond Religion’ they are explained in secular terms. I found the Dalai Lama’s philosophy of ethics to be very interesting especially given my strictly Judeo-Christian ethics background. There was much to consider, and I’m sure I’ll be re-reading and referring to this section of the book. The second section, including the mindfulness exercises did not have much new material if you have other experience with meditation practice, but would be useful to newcomers.The Dalai Lama states that he has taught secular ethics worldwide and has written this book in response to questions of how to teach these concepts. I can see this book being especially useful for teachers wanting to introduce secular ethics and mindfulness exercises into their classroomsThe entire book is highly readable with a beautifully clear style that really connects the reader with the Dalai Lama’s vision of a better society through the personal growth of individuals.
    • 4/5
      'Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World' has sprung from what seems to be H.H. the Dalai Lama's commitment to fostering compassion as widely as possible--in this instance, beyond Buddhists and even individuals who identify as religious. Written in a straightforward, colloquial voice with characteristic good humor, this book opens in its first half a broad discussion of secular ethics grounded in human nature. The second half offers advice--some a bit abstract, but some direct and pragmatic--on building or sustaining a regular practice of compassion. I worry a bit that assuming this must be done through formal meditation practices may be too far outside the norm for many who haven't decided to cultivate mindfulness, but the broad, embracing vision of this book is likely to interest many individuals from a variety of backgrounds.
    • 4/5
      This is a very nice, brief collection from His Holiness that is best summed up by paraphrasing from the book itself: People cannot live without the dignity we all deserve as humans. Though technically a furtherance of his seminal work Ethics for a New Millennium, it is a stand alone, crystal-clear guidebook for embracing the post-religious world.This is a succinct, gentle reminder that simple empathy and compassion go a long way towards healing all that ails the world. The book tunes out the white-noise of our hectic lives. It cuts through confusion. The lesson is easy. Despite the ever-turning wheel of material/technological/political change, simple guidelines for simply improving life are easy to follow.Of course the sticking to them is the hard part. But this book is full of reminders about how to stay on the path. One of my favorite (and I think most important) prompts was his call to always educate future generations. It is our responsibility and should be our chief priority. This book is a good start in teaching "ethics for a whole world."
    • 5/5
      This book, Beyond Religion, speaks from the Eastern values and words causing me to re-think the words; secular to include those who have faith; and mental to include the heart; and so many other definitions. I am grateful for the way the author defines the words he uses the first time he does so, in a way that causes me to think, and not to feel condescended to. I had not considered the ideal of compassion being the foundation for my own happiness, although it made me happy to be able to help others. This book gave me the tools to help me create in myself the kind of person I want to be.
    • 5/5
      His Holiness uses this book, Beyond Religion, to further three basic premises. First, one does not have to be religious to be ethical. Second, one does not have to be religious in order to practice meditation. Third, meditation fosters the clarity and self-discipline that are necessary in order to live an ethical life. He goes on to argue that meditation should be included as part of formal ethical training in public schools because modern school systems are no longer tied to religious institutions, and so do not inculcate their students into a set of religious norms. Even if they did no single religion is a good fit for all 7 billion people alive today. The result is that, absent formal ethical training, people are adopting consumer capitalism as their default ethical system. This has dire implications for the health of the global ecology and for our ability to relate to one another compassionately. The first half of the book is spent making the case for the existence of and need for secular ethics. The second half is an introduction to meditation practice and an explanation of its benefits for the individual and for society. Both are written simply and warmly, which is amazing considering the complexity of the topic and the delicacy with which the subject must be handled. Ultimately, I found this book to be a very engaging paradox. Here is a man whose public identity is inseparable with a non-theistic religion making the case to both atheists and theists that for the good of the species mindfulness meditation should be included in public education. Skeptical atheists will likely question the value of listening to a person whose formal title is "His Holiness" and dogmatic theists will likely object to the notion of an ethical system outside of revelation. If they can get past these preconceptions and actually pick up the book they will find it to be a very unassuming, cogent and charming attempt at addressing how to deal with the breathtaking greed that seems so characteristic of our age. No matter what your preferred cosmology, I strongly encourage you to engage with this book. Even if your conclusions wind up differing from the author's you'll be richer for the encounter.
    • 5/5
      Without a doubt the best book written by the Dalai Lama, so far. I really didn't want to finish Beyond Religion and now that I have, I feel the need to read it again. I recognise that I have a tremendous lack of tolerance for religion and those who profess to be devoutly anything. This book came into my life at a very good time and I highly recommend it. I can not imagine anyone not benefiting from what His Holiness has to share. His acceptance is inspiring.
    • 4/5
      Much food for thought in this scary time where it seems like people spend less and less time on the contemplation of harmony and conservation and react violently over the smallest detail, screaming that they are being repressed when they are in fact doing the repressing. Sadly the people who need this message the most are those that wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole, simply by seeing the Dalai Lama on the cover.

      The message is wonderful, promoting compassion and intelligent thinking at the individual level to in turn effect change on a greater scale.

      "It is my hope that this will be a century of peace, a century of dialogue -- a century when more caring, responsible, and compassionate humanity will emerge."

      This is my hope too. But on the evening after another mass shooting in our country, I have to say, I am saddened and discouraged by my fellow humans, and what we're allowing to pass. I can only hope that there are others like myself, who want peace and harmony, and that by striving to better myself, the greater change the Dalai Lama hopes will follow, truly comes to pass.
    • 3/5
      I am a big fan of the Dali Lama and picked this up for free a while ago. As a humanist I thought I would enjoy it.

      I did enjoy the beginning, but after that it dragged on a fair amount. Since it was an audiobook I can't really skip that. I think I would enjoy reading the actual book and hopefully I will at some point.

      Also now I keep thinking the Dali Lama sounds like Martin Sheen.
    • 5/5
      Three books published in the last few years should be on every peacemaker's bookshelf: Steven Pinker's "The Better Angels of Our Nature", Michael Shermer's "The Moral Arc", and the Dalai Lama's "Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World". These three volumes begin with the premise that global violence on an historical timeline is not getting worse and that humanity is generally good. Turn the nightly news on today, or scan the latest headlines on your iPhone, and it would seem that the world grows uglier each day. Pinker's book successfully argues that the past was a much more brutal time. Shermer argues that because of the Enlightenment, thinkers consciously applied the methods of science to morally solve social struggles and that again, on an historical timeline, humanity is in the most moral period in history. The Dalai Lama makes it clear in "Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World" that an individual does not have to be religious to be ethical. Love and compassion are necessities for living. Compassion expresses deep sensitivity to the sufferings of others and a fierce drive to help alleviate those sufferings. Compassion is also the realization that we - human beings, animals, and the earth itself - are all interconnected.
    • 3/5
      I wanted more from this book. It's philosophically/theologically sound, and I agree with the basic premise, but it still read like a book about Tibetan Buddhism. I think it would be accessible to members of other religious traditions, and to non-religious people, but it didn't break new ground for me.
    • 4/5
      I sincerely enjoyed reading about the cultivation of specific human traits from a non-dogmatic persepctive. I have always rejected the notion that a deity is necessary for mankind to avoid that which is harmful to us along numerous plains of the human experience. The author takes his time discussing particular traits, positive and negative, in simple terms, using metaphor only when needed. As with other books I've read by Tibetan monks, I agree with about 92% of the philosophy and disagree with the rest. The author seems to rush through one point that I wish he'd taken a bit longer to explain: that of capital punishment and revenge. His conclusion was too quick, especially in the face of strong counter-arguments. Perhaps there *is* closure, and no cycle of violence, when an gross offender's life is taken in return for a crime. Explore that from the victim's perspective please, a bit more. The discussion was ended too quickly. Another unanswered question is: how do we know based on our emotions, whether to give expression to a natural urge or to quash it? This isn't clear to me. On what rationalistic reasoning is this based? I am more used to the concept of channeling all emotions, rather than supressing it, which is beyond a monumental task, which the Dalai Lama seeme to think could come with ease. Not so. No matter the content in the book, I must always keep in mind with a dash of salt that desire to monks is expressed for the layman as a wish for chocolate cake, rather than, oh, I dunno, sex?

    Book preview

    Beyond Religion - Dalai Lama

    title page

    Contents

    Title Page

    Contents

    Copyright

    Acknowledgments

    Introduction

    A New Vision of Secular Ethics

    Rethinking Secularism

    Our Common Humanity

    The Quest for Happiness

    Compassion, the Foundation of Well-Being

    Compassion and the Question of Justice

    The Role of Discernment

    Ethics in Our Shared World

    Educating the Heart Through Training the Mind

    Ethical Mindfulness in Everyday Life

    Dealing with Destructive Emotions

    Cultivating Key Inner Values

    Meditation as Mental Cultivation

    Afterword

    About the Author

    Connect with HMH

    First Mariner Books edition 2012

    Copyright © 2011 His Holiness the Dalai Lama

    All rights reserved

    For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to trade.permissions@hmhco.com or to Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 3 Park Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10016.

    hmhbooks.com

    The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

    Bstan-’dzin-rgya-mtsho, Dalai Lama XIV, 1935–

    Beyond religion: ethics for a whole world/His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

    p. cm.

    ISBN 978-0-547-63635-1

    ISBN 978-0-547-84428-2 (pbk.)

    1. Ethics. 2. Values. 3. Secularism. I. Title.

    BJ1012.B739 2011

    170'.44—dc23

    2011028558

    eISBN 978-0-547-64572-8

    v5.0120

    Acknowledgments

    In the writing of this book, I have been fortunate to have been assisted by the same editorial team that worked on my previous book, Ethics for the New Millennium, with the addition of one or two others. I would therefore like to acknowledge with gratitude the efforts of the concerned members of my Private Office, the invaluable help of my long-time translator, Thupten Jinpa Langri, and the editorial attention of Alexander Norman and his associate George FitzHerbert.

    It is my sincere hope that what is written here may contribute, in however small a way, to building a more compassionate and more peaceful world. Of course we are not going to change the world overnight. And we will not change it with a short treatise such as this one. Change will come gradually through increased awareness, and awareness will only come with education. If the reader finds anything written here to be of benefit, then our endeavors will have been well rewarded. A reader who finds no such benefit should not feel any awkwardness about setting this book aside.

    The Dalai Lama

    Dharamsala, 2nd June 2011

    Introduction

    I am an old man now. I was born in 1935 in a small village in northeastern Tibet. For reasons beyond my control, I have lived most of my adult life as a stateless refugee in India, which has been my second home for over fifty years. I often joke that I am India’s longest-staying guest. In common with other people of my age, I have witnessed many of the dramatic events that have shaped the world we live in. Since the late 1960s, I have also traveled a great deal, and had the honor to meet people from many different backgrounds: not just presidents and prime ministers, kings and queens, and leaders from all the world’s great religious traditions, but also a great number of ordinary people from all walks of life.

    Looking back over the past decades, I find many reasons to rejoice. Through advances in medical science, deadly diseases have been eradicated. Millions of people have been lifted from poverty and have gained access to modern education and health care. We have a universal declaration of human rights, and awareness of the importance of such rights has grown tremendously. As a result, the ideals of freedom and democracy have spread around the world, and there is increasing recognition of the oneness of humanity. There is also growing awareness of the importance of a healthy environment. In very many ways, the last half-century or so has been one of progress and positive change.

    At the same time, despite tremendous advances in so many fields, there is still great suffering, and humanity continues to face enormous difficulties and problems. While in the more affluent parts of the world people enjoy lifestyles of high consumption, there remain countless millions whose basic needs are not met. With the end of the Cold War, the threat of global nuclear destruction has receded, but many continue to endure the sufferings and tragedy of armed conflict. In many areas, too, people are having to deal with environmental problems and, with these, threats to their livelihood and worse. At the same time, many others are struggling to get by in the face of inequality, corruption, and injustice.

    These problems are not limited to the developing world. In the richer countries, too, there are many difficulties, including widespread social problems: alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence, family breakdown. People are worried about their children, about their education and what the world holds in store for them. Now, too, we have to recognize the possibility that human activity is damaging our planet beyond a point of no return, a threat which creates further fear. And all the pressures of modern life bring with them stress, anxiety, depression, and, increasingly, loneliness. As a result, everywhere I go, people are complaining. Even I find myself complaining from time to time!

    It is clear that something is seriously lacking in the way we humans are going about things. But what is it that we lack? The fundamental problem, I believe, is that at every level we are giving too much attention to the external, material aspects of life while neglecting moral ethics and inner values.

    By inner values I mean the qualities that we all appreciate in others, and toward which we all have a natural instinct, bequeathed by our biological nature as animals that survive and thrive only in an environment of concern, affection, and warmheartedness—or in a single word, compassion. The essence of compassion is a desire to alleviate the suffering of others and to promote their well-being. This is the spiritual principle from which all other positive inner values emerge. We all appreciate in others the inner qualities of kindness, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, and generosity, and in the same way we are all averse to displays of greed, malice, hatred, and bigotry. So actively promoting the positive inner qualities of the human heart that arise from our core disposition toward compassion, and learning to combat our more destructive propensities, will be appreciated by all. And the first beneficiaries of such a strengthening of our inner values will, no doubt, be ourselves. Our inner lives are something we ignore at our own peril, and many of the greatest problems we face in today’s world are the result of such neglect.

    Not long ago I visited Orissa, a region in eastern India. The poverty in this part of the country, especially among tribal people, has recently led to growing conflict and insurgency. I met with a member of parliament from the region and discussed these issues. From him I gathered that there are a number of legal mechanisms and well-funded government projects already in place aimed at protecting the rights of tribal people and even giving them material assistance. The problem, he said, was that because of corruption these programs were not benefiting those they were intended to help. When such projects are subverted by dishonesty, inefficiency, and irresponsibility on the part of those charged with implementing them, they become worthless.

    This example shows very clearly that even when a system is sound, its effectiveness depends on the way it is used. Ultimately, any system, any set of laws or procedures, can only be as effective as the individuals responsible for its implementation. If, owing to failures of personal integrity, a good system is misused, it can easily become a source of harm rather than a source of benefit. This is a general truth which applies to all fields of human activity, even religion. Though religion certainly has the potential to help people lead meaningful and happy lives, it too, when misused, can become a source of conflict and division. Similarly, in the fields of commerce and finance, the systems themselves may be sound, but if the people using them are unscrupulous and driven by self-serving greed, the benefits of those systems will be undermined. Unfortunately, we see this happening in many kinds of human activities: even in international sports, where corruption threatens the very notion of fair play.

    Of course, many discerning people are aware of these problems and are working sincerely to redress them from within their own areas of expertise. Politicians, civil servants, lawyers, educators, environmentalists, activists, and so on—people from all sides are already engaged in this effort. This is very good so far as it goes, but the fact is, we will never solve our problems simply by instituting new laws and regulations. Ultimately, the source of our problems lies at the level of the individual. If people lack moral values and integrity, no system of laws and regulations will be adequate. So long as people give priority to material values, then injustice, corruption, inequity, intolerance, and greed—all the outward manifestations of neglect of inner values—will persist.

    So what are we to do? Where are we to turn for help? Science, for all the benefits it has brought to our external world, has not yet provided scientific grounding for the development of the foundations of personal integrity—the basic inner human values that we appreciate in others and would do well to promote in ourselves. Perhaps then we should seek inner values from religion, as people have done for millennia? Certainly religion has helped millions of people in the past, helps millions today, and will continue to help millions in the future. But for all its benefits in offering moral guidance and meaning in life, in today’s secular world religion alone is no longer adequate as a basis for ethics. One reason for this is that many people in the world no longer follow any particular religion. Another reason is that, as the peoples of the world become ever more closely interconnected in an age of globalization and in multicultural societies, ethics based on any one religion would only appeal to some of us; it would not be meaningful for all. In the past, when peoples lived in relative isolation from one another—as we Tibetans lived quite happily for many centuries behind our wall of mountains—the fact that groups pursued their own religiously based approaches to ethics posed no difficulties. Today, however, any religion-based answer to the problem of our neglect of inner values can never be universal, and so will be inadequate. What we need today is an approach to ethics which makes no recourse to religion and can be equally acceptable to those with faith and those without: a secular ethics.

    This statement 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. Whatever we do, we do because we think it will be of some benefit. At the same time, we all appreciate the kindness of others. We are all, by nature, oriented toward the basic human values of love and compassion. We all prefer the love of others to their hatred. We all prefer others’ generosity to their meanness. And who among us does not prefer tolerance, respect, and forgiveness of our failings to bigotry, disrespect, and resentment?

    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. The development and practice of this new vision of ethics is what I propose to elaborate in the course of this book. It is my hope that doing so will help to promote understanding of the need for ethical awareness and inner values in this age of excessive materialism.

    At the outset I should make it clear that my intention is not to dictate moral values. Doing that would be of no benefit. To try to impose moral principles from outside, to impose them, as it were, by command, can never be effective. Instead, I call for each of us to come to our own understanding of the importance of inner values. For it is these inner values which are the source of both an ethically harmonious world and the individual peace of mind, confidence, and happiness we all seek. Of course, all the world’s major religions, with their emphasis on love, compassion, patience, tolerance, and forgiveness, can and do promote inner values. But the reality of the world today is that grounding ethics in religion is no longer adequate. This is why I believe the time has come to find a way of thinking about spirituality and ethics that is beyond religion.

    Part I

    A New Vision of Secular Ethics

    1

    Rethinking Secularism

    Inner Values in an Age of Science

    I AM A MAN OF religion, but religion alone cannot answer all our problems.

    Not long ago I attended a formal ceremony to mark the opening of a new Buddhist temple in Bihar, a particularly densely populated and poor part of northern India. The chief minister of Bihar, an old friend of mine, made a fine speech in which he expressed his conviction that, with the blessings of the Buddha, the state of Bihar would now prosper. When my turn came to speak, I suggested, half-jokingly, that if Bihar’s prosperity depended solely on the blessings of the Buddha, it really should have prospered a long time ago! After all, Bihar is home to the holiest site for Buddhists—Bodh Gaya, where the historical Buddha attained full enlightenment. For real change, we require more than the blessings of the Buddha, powerful though they may be, and more than prayer. We also need action, which will only come about through the able efforts of the chief minister and others like him!

    This is not to suggest that blessings and prayer are useless. In fact, I consider prayer to be of immense psychological benefit. But we must accept that its tangible results are often hard to see. When it comes to obtaining certain, direct results, it

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1