Toward a True Kinship of Faiths: How the World's Religions Can Come Together

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Toward a True Kinship of Faiths: How the World's Religions Can Come Together

4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 · rating details · 130 ratings · 34 reviews

‌No country, no culture, no person today is untouched by what happens in the rest of the world. Technological innovation, environmental degradation, economic gain & loss, nuclear weapons, instant communication have all created unprecedented familiarity among the world’s many cultures. With this historic development, the Dalai Lama understands that the essential task of...more ‌No country, no culture, no person today is untouched by what happens in the rest of the world. Technological innovation, environmental degradation, economic gain & loss, nuclear weapons, instant communication have all created unprecedented familiarity among the world’s many cultures. With this historic development, the Dalai Lama understands that the essential task of humanity in the 21st Century is to cultivate peaceful coexistence.

Many believe in the inevitability of an escalating “clash of civilizations”. Peaceful coexistence has long been problematic with religion, and while previous conflicts over religious differences may have been significant and regrettable, they did not threaten the very survival of humanity. Now, when extremists can persuade followers with the immense emotional power of faith and have access to powerful technological resources, a single spark could ignite a powder keg of frightening proportions.

Yet the Dalai Lama shows how the challenges of globalization can also move us in another direction, to a deeper plane where nations, cultures, and individuals connect through their shared human nature. All major religions confront the same perennial questions; each have distinct forms of expression. But this marvelous diversity of insight has the potential for inspiring dialogue which can enrich everyone’s pursuit of wisdom. All faith traditions turn to compassion as a guiding principle for living a good life. It is the task of all people with an aspiration to spiritual perfection to affirm the fundamental value of the compassion. In this way we can truly develop a deep recognition of the value of other faiths, and on that basis, we can cultivate genuine respect.

In Toward a True Kinship of Faiths, the Dalai Lama also explores where differences between religions can be genuinely appreciated without serving as a source of conflict. The establishment of genuine harmony is not dependent upon accepting that all religions are fundamentally the same or that they lead to the same place. Many fear that recognizing the value of another faith is incompatible with having devotion to the truth of one’s own. Nevertheless, the Dalai Lama profoundly shows how a sincere believer can, with integrity, be a pluralist in relation to other religions without compromising commitment to the essence of the doctrinal teachings of their own faith.

An issue of central importance for the Dalai Lama personally and for the entire world in general, Toward a True Kinship of Faiths offers a hopeful yet realistic look at how humanity must step into the future.
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Hardcover, 208 pages

Published May 11th 2010 by Harmony (first published 2010)

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Mar 09, 2013 José-contemplates-Saturn's Aurora rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: religion

History has its weight: those accumulated facts,packed as proof of man's actions; great and infamous facts...all crammed together in History books.

As I approached this book I felt I got into the center of this accumulation of facts: man's religions...and how they've been so divisive, throughout History.It weighted heavily on my memory.Still, the purpose of his Eminence the 14th Dalai Lama,Tenzin Gyatso, is exactly to counteract division; he calls it "peaceful coexistence" of different world fait...more

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Sep 30, 2011 Lee Harmon rated it 5 of 5 stars

The most special thing about this book is the way it leaves you with the feeling that you’ve been talking face to face with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. He writes with humility and passion, on matters close to his heart.

This book is about learning to get along, because the world is shrinking. Advances in science and industry have brought us closer together, even as religious differences seem extreme. Yet, the fascinating thing is, all of the world’s most respected religions seem to share one th...more The most special thing about this book is the way it leaves you with the feeling that you’ve been talking face to face with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. He writes with humility and passion, on matters close to his heart.

This book is about learning to get along, because the world is shrinking. Advances in science and industry have brought us closer together, even as religious differences seem extreme. Yet, the fascinating thing is, all of the world’s most respected religions seem to share one thing in common: A teaching of compassion. Even while some religions are theistic and others, like the Buddhist tradition of the Dalai Lama, are non-theistic, the basic teaching is the same. Compassion is, in different variations, the common denominator.

As such, the Dalai Lama shows familiarity and respect for all the popular religions, and maintains that pluralism is the healthiest answer. He pleads for inter-denominational understanding, and he writes with the authority and intelligence that would be expected of his title. I couldn't help but be both impressed and inspired. Yet, when it comes to discussing alternative religions, I doubt he will ever be able to relate on the same level to those born into those religions. The Dalai Lama can appear logical and naive in the same breath, as he dreams about mutual respect across religious boundaries. Consider this problem formula, which arises in any religion where adherents are taught that theirs is the "only true way:"

I feel the Spirit ==> God is with me and my chosen religion ==> I have found the one true way

Yet, though the Dalai Lama is optimistic for the future (as am I), he understands the problem. Religions tend toward exclusivism, so while adherents are taught concern for others, this concern often translates merely into an urge for evangelism. Christians want everybody to enjoy being a Christian! On this topic, the Dalai Lama strongly disagrees. When speaking outside his country, he often begins by assuring his audience that he is not promoting Buddhism; rather, he maintains that the best religion for any person is usually the religion of their heritage. Respect for one another's beliefs is the only way to overcome religious squabbles and promote peace.

Which, of course, is another place where the book appears a bit naïve. Fundamentalist Christians don't want peace; they get positively giddy at the thought of a world war, since this means Jesus is coming to rescue them.

So what's the answer? I'm not convinced this book has any, because I'm not convinced there are any quick fixes. But I agree that believers must, one at a time and at a grass-roots level, come to see the world in a different manner. We must see across religious boundaries and welcome every human as a brother or sister, like Jesus taught.

Well, we can dream.(less)

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Mar 15, 2011 Elysa rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: persian-pickles

This book is like a Co-exist bumper sticker elucidated painfully over the course of 183 pages. It reads slowly and tediously. Perhaps some of its stylistic problems may be related to the fact that the Dalai Lama is not an English speaker and relies heavily on the help of a translator, a fact he admits in the books opening chapters. The most positive thing that I can say about this book is that it does provide a helpful and enlightening view into the some of the better ideals expressed in many of...more

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Mar 03, 2011 Sally rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: religion, social-justice-action

Religion can be a very divisive force, associated with intolerance, persecution, conflict, exclusivity and fanaticism. The Dalai Lama argues here that this does not need to be the case and that the religions can instead lead the way toward peace, tolerance, and greater understanding. The first section of the book examines several of the world's religions – Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism – by recounting the author's contacts and experiences with each faith...more Religion can be a very divisive force, associated with intolerance, persecution, conflict, exclusivity and fanaticism. The Dalai Lama argues here that this does not need to be the case and that the religions can instead lead the way toward peace, tolerance, and greater understanding. The first section of the book examines several of the world's religions – Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism – by recounting the author's contacts and experiences with each faith and its exponents. In this way it provides examples of how people can gradually become familiar with other faiths and get to genuinely appreciate aspects of them, while still being firmly committed to their own spiritual path. For those not familiar with these faiths, it provides an introduction to some of their basic ideas and approaches.
In the second section, the Dalai Lama gives his views on how religions can work together for the good of all. He points out that compassionate ethics is a shared aspect of all faiths, despite great metaphysical and cultural differences. Indeed, he sees it as a basic human quality that underlies all ethical teachings, religious or secular, and these ethics provide common ground. Moreover, because religions can motivate people to make great personal changes and sacrifices, as they reach a deeper emotional level than other institutions generally do, religions have a opportunity to bring about more peaceful, compassionate, earth-friendly behavior on a large scale if they work together for the good of mankind. He also includes the secular population, noting that all human beings need to work together for human good, and that religious and secular people need to learn to respect each other.
The author outlines his own approach to interfaith understanding, which rests on the recognition and celebration of differences. This raises the issue of truth in religion: "Can a single-pointed commitment to one's own faith coexist with acceptance of other religions as legitimate? Is religious pluralism impossible form the perspective of a devout person who is strongly and deeply committed to his or her own faith tradition?" (p. 146) As leader of one branch of Buddhism, he has no interest in the withering away or merging of current religions. "A successful approach cannot hide the differences by promoting some vague vision of all religions actually being one, nor can it be a syncretistic attempt to merge their various strengths into a universal faith.. . . If inter-religious harmony is based upon a healthy recognition of the differences between faith traditions, this then allows us to transcend some of those differences and move beyond them to a higher level of convergence, where they have a common goal of human betterment and a set of key ethical teachings." (p. 132) He agrees that "some version of exclusivism – the principle of 'one truth, one religion' – lies at the heart of most of the world's great religions. Furthermore a single-pointed commitment to one's own faith tradition demands the recognition that one's chosen faith represents the highest religious teaching. For example, for me Buddhism is the best, but this does not mean that Buddhism is the best for all." (p. 158) Rejecting exclusivity and inclusivism, he opts for the type of pluralism that does not accept an ultimate unity of all religions, as streams flowing into the same sea or paths up the same mountain. Recognition of such ultimate oneness of religions "demands a precondition that remains impossible for the majority of adherents of the world's great religions....True understanding of the 'other' must proceed from a genuine recognition of and respect for the other's reality. It must proceed from a state of mind where the urge to reduce the other into one's own framework is no longer the dominant mode of thinking." (p. 148)
His starting point for respect of other religions is the recognition of their benefits to millions of adherents by providing them with ethical guidance, inspiration, meaning and solace. "Their profound benefit to others is really the ultimate reason each of us, believers and nonbelievers alike, must accord deep respect to the world's great faith traditions." This is a problematic point because many nonbelievers feel that the harm religions do to believers outweighs any benefits, and religious adherents may feel the same about religions other than their own. "Given the need for upholding the perspective of 'many truths, many religions' in the context of wider society, while the dictates of one's own faith demand embracing the 'one truth, one religion' perspective, I believe that a creative approach is called for here – if one wishes to uphold both of these perspectives with integrity." (p. 160) This approach not only recognizes the benefits of other religions, but that the doctrinal teachings, though unbridgeably different, inform each religion's ethical way of life. "The doctrines themselves cannot be reconciled, but the way they make it possible to ground strikingly parallel and praiseworthy ethical system is a wonderful fact." (p. 161)
In the end, the Dalai Lama asks people to "return to our basic human quality of empathy and good heart": "On that level, all differences break down. Whether one is rich or poor, educated or illiterate, religious or nonbelieving, man or woman, black, white, or brown, we are all the same. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, we are all equal. We all share basic needs for food, shelter, safety, and love. We all aspire to happiness and we all shun suffering. Each of us has hopes, worries, fears, and dreams. Each of us wants the best for our family and loved ones. We all experience pain when we suffer loss and joy when we achieve what we seek. On this fundamental level, religion, ethnicity, culture, and language make no difference. Today's great challenge of peaceful coexistence demands that we remain in touch with this basic part of our nature." (p. 180) This book is a thought-provoking contribution to discovering paths to peace and well-being for all.
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Nov 03, 2011 Bobbi Taniguchi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Two points. 1. Compassion is the root of all religion and nonreligious ethic. This is where we find a common denominator to work together for world peace. 2. All roads lead to 'Heaven.' Unfortunately, this is a Buddhist concept, and doesn't translate to theistic religion. The step before this step though, respect for the value religions have, is doable. Excellent read. (note: Catholicism is used to refer to all Christianity; a mite simplistic for us Christians who are not Catholic). Also, from a...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Posh Able Paula rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

From the book: My engagement with the world’s religions has convinced me that, whatever the differences of doctrine on the level of actually living a religious life or fulfilling a spiritual aspiration, there is a striking degree of shared understanding. In particular, all the great religions stress compassion as fundamental spiritual value. Whether it is in scriptural prescriptions for leading a good life, in the kind of life that is admired and propagated, or in the exemplary lives of many of...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Jane rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: buddhism, religious-studies-comparative, bucket-list

LOVED IT!!
I am not a Buddhist. I thought the suthor was spot on in much of what he said.
While he explains the position of fundamentalism and compares it to his positions, I think fundamentalists will not buy into his arguments.
My only dissapointments were that his interactions with Christians were limited to Catholics, eastern orthodox and anglicans. That leaves protestants and other traditions, LDS and SDA's for example out of the picture. The other was his admitted lack of exposure to Islam...more

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Sep 14, 2010 Kristin Traylor rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Dalai Lama says that since all of the worlds's "great" religions share compassion as their most basic value, they should provide a more unified voice on world problems such as poverty, injustice, the environment, racism, and war. At the very least, they should not use religion to promote war or intolerance. He feels people are better off staying within their own faith tradition, because it is their karma. He doesn't believe that theist and non-theist faiths will ultimately unite.

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Jan 14, 2011 Heather Young rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a happy read and one that really touched my heart. While at times the Dalai Lama lost me with references to friends and acquaintances, he touched me with his pure wisdom and kind heart. I can see why so many rever him as the guru and teacher that he has guided so many on their path to faith. I think what's the most enlightening in this book is the similarities in our faiths and that that which shouldn't be something that seperates us but brings us together.

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May 19, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: buddhism, religion-spirituality

His Holiness the Dalai Lama contends that compassion is at the heart of the world's major religions. While not denying that there are major differences between faiths, he argues that the path to peace and human happiness - indeed, the path to survival of our planet and our species - is to focus on what we have in common. The Dalai Lama's unwavering kindness and positive outlook is an inspiration. The 5-disc audiobook, read by Richard Gere, is nicely done.

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Oct 29, 2010 Mark rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

Not the Dalai Lama's best effort. The bulk of this book was taken up by descriptions of how the Dalai Lama met various leaders from other faiths and the conversations that stemmed from those meetings. The conclusion is this: a central tenet in most (all?) religions is to have compassion for others. Disagreeing is fine but just don't go kill anyone.

Got it.

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Jun 27, 2010 Marita rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: spirituality

At times all his name dropping got on the way of his message and at times he was slow by our western busy standards on coming to the point but his message and spirit is genuine. If world peace or even personal peace is of interest to you then this is an awesome book to read.

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Jul 26, 2010 Kat rated it 4 of 5 stars

So this was a "mostly read" book. I honestly had a bit of a hard time following what he was talking about, mostly because my knowledge of any religion other than ones housed in Christianity and Judaism are dismal at best. But, I did learn quite a bit about Buddhism, which I found to be very interesting. Overall, the more I've thought about it, the more I realized I gained from it so I think it was worth the read.

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Jul 10, 2010 Rhi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Wonderful audio book -- even more wonderful is that it is read by Richard Gere. . . .

A wonderfully coherent and loving call for humans to get along - - - to not just quit killing each other in the name of a higher power but also to stop trying change others in that same name.

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Oct 07, 2010 Lindsey rated it 2 of 5 stars

An interesting premise but not something I was in the mood for. Also there is a bit too much name dropping for me to really get into it. I didn't finish this book but would definitely pick it up again when I was in the mood for discussing world religions and the idea of compassion.

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Aug 10, 2012 Bonnie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Dalai Lama finds the beauty and goodness in everything and religion is no exception. I felt such a warm kinship with all the religious traditions after reading his words.

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May 29, 2010 Mitchell26 McLaughlin rated it 3 of 5 stars

A lot of wasted pages talking about peole he had met, but without any real import. His conclusion, however, is promising and he agrees with me in principle, but his solution is too simplistic. A good read though.

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Jun 23, 2012 Titus added it · review of another edition

Its an excellent read. Its well-written and does a wonderful job of connecting the faiths of the world.

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Jun 06, 2011 Jessica Flores rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, school-reading

It was a good book. Has a lot of good ideas on how the world can be compassionate towards other religions. It was assigned reading for my Religious Studies class and I enjoyed but I'm glad it's finished.

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Feb 19, 2011 Kari rated it 4 of 5 stars

Good to see inclusive coverage for those without religious beliefs.

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Oct 07, 2010 Karin rated it 4 of 5 stars

I picked up this book because it seemed to express my own desire to see the world's religions coexist with mutual respect. The Dalai Lama not only reinforced my view, but challenged me as well. While warning against exclusivism and fundamentalism, he encourages each of us to embrace our inherited traditions. I have learned quite a bit from this book and I would recommend it to anyone who, like me, has strong suspicions that religion has been hijacked for political gain.

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Feb 12, 2011 Matt Wisdom rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2011

An interesting book by the idealistic Dalai Lama about how to bring the world's religions, particularly their more contemplative and mystic segments, together.

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Aug 21, 2010 Jacqueline rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library-books

His little smile comes through with each sentence. His view of other religions is so non-judgemental and kind - something the world could use more of.

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Feb 23, 2011 Spider rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What a lovely book! Fine insights & concepts shared with noble aspirations for all...

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Aug 25, 2010 Bcmorr2 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Much of the literature I read comes from the Western tradition so hearing an Eastern perspective helps balance things out. Overall a good read, it can get a bit repetitive at times and if you're Asian history is as poor as mine, you will find yourself trudging through various names and places. I gave this book four stars mainly for the message it brings across. Living in harmony is something we should strive for.

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Jan 23, 2011 Liz rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

I'll admit it - I could NOT read this book cover to cover. I love the premise of the book, but the amount of name-dropping just got ridiculous. It only served as a distraction to me. I would recommend reading the preface and the last chapter...

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Sep 06, 2012 Kathy Nealen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Amen! "There are so many paths up the mountain; and, the view from the top is still the same."

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Dec 19, 2010 Inara Scott marked it as to-read

Had a curiously intense soporific effect. Still, good reading.

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Oct 12, 2010 Paula rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 50-books-read-for-2010

That I have to buy my own copy of this book!

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Sep 25, 2010 Dave is currently reading it

compassion toward all beings is a unifying theme in all religions

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About Dalai Lama XIV

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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“Whether one is rich or poor, educated or illiterate, religious or nonbelieving, man or woman, black, white, or brown, we are all the same. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, we are all equal. We all share basic needs for food, shelter, safety, and love. We all aspire to happiness and we all shun suffering. Each of us has hopes, worries, fears, and dreams. Each of us wants the best for our family and loved ones. We all experience pain when we suffer loss and joy when we achieve what we seek. On this fundamental level, religion, ethnicity, culture, and language make no difference.” — 55 people liked it

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