67th out of 409 books
—
464 voters
Ethics for the New Millennium
In a difficult, uncertain time, it takes a person of great courage, such as the Dalai Lama, to give us hope. Regardless of the violence and cynicism we see on television and read about in the news, there is an argument to be made for basic human goodness. The number of people who spend their lives engaged in violence and dishonesty is tiny compared to the vast majority who...more
Paperback, 237 pages
Published
May 1st 2001
by Riverhead Trade
(first published January 1st 1999)
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Check out my spanish review on my blog: http://bit.ly/XIX9sq
This is such an extraordinary book! Everyone should read it! Despite it was written more than a decade ago; the topic is clearly current and alive. I am so touched and moved for what I have just read; that I can only transcribe the last few paragraphs of this fantastic book:
Therefore; with my two hands joined; I appeal to you the reader to ensure that you make the rest of your life as meaningful as possible. Do this by engaging in spiri...more
This is such an extraordinary book! Everyone should read it! Despite it was written more than a decade ago; the topic is clearly current and alive. I am so touched and moved for what I have just read; that I can only transcribe the last few paragraphs of this fantastic book:
Therefore; with my two hands joined; I appeal to you the reader to ensure that you make the rest of your life as meaningful as possible. Do this by engaging in spiri...more
The Dalai Lama wrote this call for a spiritual revolution in 1999, and it represents the encapsulation of his thinking about ethics, an ethics not dependent on a particular religion or indeed any religion at all. Rather, it grows out of his conviction that the way to a fulfilled and meaningful life depends on the recognition that all people desire happiness and freedom from suffering. All phenomena in the world are interdependent, the nature of reality being that no one exists alone or by and fo...more
This was required reading for a course I am taking which only makes me that much more impressed that I found it so profound. The Dalai Lama has somehow managed to outdo Joseph Campbell in religious sophistication. He has written a book for all of us that is, dare I say it, post religious. Post religious in a deeply spiritual way, in a all-embracing way, and in a conversational non-academic style. Clearly, he is primarily motivated by Buddhist beliefs but he is speaking to as wide an audience as...more
What the Dalai Lama writes in this book really reflects a lot of my own personal philosophy. His main belief is that all humans want to find happiness and aviod suffering. The best way to do this is by living a life of love, compassion, patience, forgiveness, tolerance, and humility. He beleives that religious practice often cultivates these in our lives, but he argues that it is not NECESSARY to be an active participant in a religious practice to live an ethically grounded life. I find this ver...more
Why I Read this Book: Who could pass up the opportunity to learn about ethics from the Dali Lama himself.
Review:
Ethics are an interesting concept. A set of rules or ways of life that guide us to live life in a positive way both for ourselves and for those around us. This is my definition and hopefully at this point in your journey towards success, you have developed your own definitions of ethics and values. The unfortunate fact of life is that there are too many people out there who do not have...more
Review:
Ethics are an interesting concept. A set of rules or ways of life that guide us to live life in a positive way both for ourselves and for those around us. This is my definition and hopefully at this point in your journey towards success, you have developed your own definitions of ethics and values. The unfortunate fact of life is that there are too many people out there who do not have...more
Sep 13, 2012
David M.
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ethics,
non-fiction
I would recommend the newer Beyond Religion Ethics for a Whole World instead, as a more methodical, precise, and practical guide to ethics. I found Ethics for the New Millennium to be comparatively gauzy, vague, and platitudinous.
Still, there was some meat on the bone worth chewing on.
The key to Ethics for the New Millennium is the Dalai Lama’s assertion that the way to be happy and content is to develop and expand one’s own compassion. The purest and most universally-directed altruism is simult...more
Still, there was some meat on the bone worth chewing on.
The key to Ethics for the New Millennium is the Dalai Lama’s assertion that the way to be happy and content is to develop and expand one’s own compassion. The purest and most universally-directed altruism is simult...more
The Dalai Lama reaches past religious boundaries in this call for a new ethics practical for peoples of all beliefs, religious and secular. Although religions have provided ethical instruction in the past, they are losing their hold. Therefore we need an ethics which does not depend on religions, one which is at home in both religious and secular contexts. This he seeks to provide in Ethics for the New Millennium.
To begin, the Dalai Lama urges the need to ground all actions in positive mental st...more
To begin, the Dalai Lama urges the need to ground all actions in positive mental st...more
As a brief and necessarily general work, this book isn't exactly revelatory, but its simplicity is soothing and its message always welcome, however familiar. After all, there's a difference between being familiar with and remaining aware of ethical principles, not to mention the difference between remaining aware of and acting on them. For the duration of the book, I was at least aware.
Ultimately, I'd prefer a more specific discussion of how the Dalai Lama's experience and belief are relevant to...more
Ultimately, I'd prefer a more specific discussion of how the Dalai Lama's experience and belief are relevant to...more
I've always enjoyed reading items written by the current Dalai Lama; I think he has a very easy and ascertainable writing style that brings forth the concepts of Buddhism, and his belief for its application in our world, in a manner that is very accessible to the reader. This book was no exception, and for any one familiar with his writings, his focus on compassion as the core of ethics is no surprise. I tend to agree with an ethics centered on compassion, but I think the book begins the discuss...more
I'm giving a lecture on commitment and the willingness to suffer (ostensibly about the death of Socrates) and I remember these two Dalai Lama books that I read a few years ago. I think the point is that empathy is human, and empathy requires us to share suffering. Suffering is in the Affective Domain, but the causes of suffering can be physical, cognitive, or affective. I think the point with Socrates (the Crito) is that he empathizes with the suffering in Athens caused by a cognitive deficiency...more
I wanted to find a way to simply be more peaceful in my daily life, and it seems to me that real Buddhists are pretty peaceful people, so the Dalai Lama seemed to be a good place to go to for some ideas on peace.
I enjoyed reading the book and it does give some really good ideas and ways to think. I found myself identifying with the people he described that I wish I wasn't like! This gave me ideas on how to change, or simple ways to think differently to be happier and kinder and more peaceful in...more
I enjoyed reading the book and it does give some really good ideas and ways to think. I found myself identifying with the people he described that I wish I wasn't like! This gave me ideas on how to change, or simple ways to think differently to be happier and kinder and more peaceful in...more
I always enjoy reading books by the Dalai Lama, although I find much of it hard to understand. I have been solidly in the Christian tradition all my life and although I find Buddhist ideas interesting, they are for the most part outside my experience. Fortunately this book concentrates very little on Buddhist philosophy and focuses mainly on what I would call an everyperson view of morality. I found this very practical and admired how the Dalai Lama made his case, from individual experience up t...more
Beautiful words from a beautiful man. The following quote epitomizes why I love studying other faith traditions and philosophies, outside perspectives enhance my Mormon experience: “To the extent that the insights or practices of other religions are useful or relevant to our own faith, it is valuable to learn from others. In some cases, it may even be helpful to adopt certain of them. Yet when this is done wisely, we can remain firmly committed to our own faith” page 229.
The Dalai Lama is a beautiful, caring, warm soul, one who we can all learn a great deal from. This book is simply his thoughts on what we as individuals can do to make the world a better place, just as the title suggests, in an ever changing world heading into a new Millennium.
There are many great guidelines on these pages, many that our political and social leaders should really take a look at.
There isn't really anything mind blowing or revolutionary, the ideas are rather basic, but he portray...more
There are many great guidelines on these pages, many that our political and social leaders should really take a look at.
There isn't really anything mind blowing or revolutionary, the ideas are rather basic, but he portray...more
Book is very dense and hard to read without a vast amount of self reflection, but it is very enlightening. The best part of this book is on conflictive emotions that keep people from seeing clearly. The anger caused by these emotions usually leads to more negative emotions and more problems that caused the intial emotions. If you look at it from this point of view, one can model their life around clear thinking and emotions
The Dalai Lama has given us a real gift with this book. His logic is irrevocable, which is the best part of this treaties. One cannot argue with his simple self-evident logic, and his logic is able to illuminate the deepest truth of human nature. Taken with "Bonds that Make us Free" this book can change your life if you let it.
The most impressive thing about this book is that it came out in early 2001 - months before our nation underwent an unprecedented tragedy - and the Dalai Lama's message of a roadmap for peaceful coexistence in our world resonates just as powerfully today as it did in what Americans would consider more 'peaceful' days.
I re-read this after 9/11 and felt like it was a handbook for the world's leaders to follow. I don't think any did - ours sure didn't - but the book also talks about our own person...more
I re-read this after 9/11 and felt like it was a handbook for the world's leaders to follow. I don't think any did - ours sure didn't - but the book also talks about our own person...more
The Dalai Lama outlines the very basic principles of human ethics and morality. Mostly, he gives tautologies about human natures ("People want to be happy because people like happiness) and other things that seem so obvious. Still, it might take the Dalai Lama to say it to be able to realize it. It's a light read, but not really all that enlightening or inspiring.
This is one of the best surveys of Buddhist thought available for westerners. In his lovable style and simple, straightforward prose, His Holiness provides people of all walks of life with what they have always wanted... the key to happiness.
Of all the books I have read by His Holiness the Dalai Lama this is the one that feels the most direct, not through an interpreter or narrator. Reading this is the next best thing to a conversation with the man himself.
Also of note is that the practice des...more
Of all the books I have read by His Holiness the Dalai Lama this is the one that feels the most direct, not through an interpreter or narrator. Reading this is the next best thing to a conversation with the man himself.
Also of note is that the practice des...more
In an ever expanding global community, resulting in the elimination or reduction of boundaries separating countries, economies, cultures and people, there is little doubt we need universal, or at least globally recognized ethics. Otherwise our future is likely to be marked by increasing tensions, divisions, conflict and even war between nations. Ethics for The New Millennium is a good start in trying to identify what a global system of ethics might look like. At the very least, another secular w...more
Excellent and thought-provoking, this book presents "a moral system based on universal, rather than religious principles." Love, compassion, patience, tolerance, humility , forgiveness. I especially appreciated the fact that he discusses what's right with the world (hope based on a greater awareness of ecology, cooperation, awareness, ect.), and not just what is troubling. He deals with difficult issues (how can different religions co-exist, how can different religious practitioners still stay t...more
The Dalai Lama outlines an ethic of compassion. We all desire to be happy and to avoid suffering. We are all interconnected and when others suffer, it adds to our suffering. Therefore, the best way to avoid suffering ourselves is to practice non-violence, avoid causing suffering to other people, and help reduce suffering of other people. We need to move beyond being selfish and have compassion for all other beings.
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11132524
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11132524
Aug 04, 2011
Renae
added it
It was a little repetitive, but I feel like most books are that fall into the category 'spiritual'. Otherwise, very good.
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Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (born Lhamo Döndrub, Tibetan: ལྷ་མོ་དོན་འགྲུབ་), the 14th Dalai Lama, is a practicing member of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism and is influential as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the world's most famous Buddhist monk, and the leader of the exiled Tibetan government in India.
Tenzin Gyatso was the fifth of sixteen children born to a farming fa...more
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Tenzin Gyatso was the fifth of sixteen children born to a farming fa...more
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Nov 01, 2008 12:53pm