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. ( )

The Dalai Lama knows inspiration and spirituality. He has both in spades. His claim that ethics needs to be defined outside of religion is something I believe is most certainly true.

However, Dalai Lama XIV would have us mostly believe it based on faith alone. He quotes friends and scientists, sometimes naming them, sometimes not,but never does he back these quotes with anything more. As he writes, the Dalai Lama is not a scientist and this is mostly a humble plea to begin encouraging humanity to look beyond the walls we build up around ourselves.

He ends: "Within the scale of the life of the cosmos, a human life is no more than a tiny blip. Each one of us is a visitor to this planet, a guest, who has only a finite time to stay. What greater folly could there be than to spend this short time lonely, unhappy, and in conflict with our fellow visitors? Far better, surely, to use our short time in pursuing a meaningful life, enriched by a sense of connection with and service toward others."

You can't argue with that.

( )

I breezed right through this lovely little book on how we need to adjust our thinking about ethics and separate them from our notions of religion, teach them more substantially in our schools, and cultivate them more vigorously in ourselves as individuals. In the first half, he sets out his reasonings for these claims, and then proceeds in the second half to instruct the reader on how to go about the personal cultivation of secular ethics with practical suggestions. I enjoyed this one a good deal, even though it was mostly a case of preaching to an already-devout member of his choir (there wasn't much here that was new to me or that went in any way against my already-held beliefs on the subject). Definitely recommended. ( )

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 values

Ten 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.

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. ( )