Beyond Religion
I just got finished reading the Dalai Lama's book, "Beyond Religion." He makes an argument for ethics outside of religion. I will briefly discuss the book and then include a few quotes.
The Dalai Lama is a Buddhist monk in the Tibetan Mahayana tradition, and a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his nonviolent protest against China's attempts to control his homeland, Tibet.
He points out two principles for secular ethics - shared humanity and interdependence. The Dalai Lama looks at the world as one big family, each and every one of us trying to find happiness and avoid suffering.
Three factors that contribute to human's well-being, according to the Dalai Lama, include: wealth, health, and friendship.
Though the focus of his book is finding ethics outside of religion, he includes insights from his own religious tradition. The basics of Buddhism are summed up in the Four Noble Truths: life is suffering, suffering is caused by desire, there is an end to suffering, the way to end suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path.
When we crave things, and become obsessed with satisfying our cravings, we create suffering for ourselves. Craving could take many forms - craving of food, craving for another person (lust), craving for approval or acceptance. A lot of times when we hear the term craving we might think about alcohol or drug addiction, but there are inner emotional, more subtle cravings that many battle on a day-to-day basis, too. Craving acceptance, I find myself living in fear of rejection. Living in fear is never a healthy way to live.
A quote from the book:
"We feel concern for those who care for us and treat us well. But when our affection is dependent on fulfillment of our own goals and expectations, which we project onto others, it will always be very fragile. So long as others meet our expectations, everything is fine, but as soon as they do not, our feelings of affection can easily turn to resentment or even hatred."
A lot of what is taught in Buddhism has to do with letting go of expectations (desire), living life in the here-and-the-now, putting an end to dwelling on the past and worrying about the future. The quote above demonstrates what can happen when we put certain expectations on people. I think compassion is to love people, without expecting anything in return, to do it just because you know it is good for you and good for them, and the right thing to do. Selflessness is the goal.
How we treat others reflects the way in which we treat ourselves and conceive ourselves
A quote from the book:
"Compassion reduces our fear, boosts our confidence, and brings us innter strength. By reducing distrust, it opens us to others and brings us a sense of connection with them and a sense of purpose and meaning in life."
The Dalai Lama is a Buddhist monk in the Tibetan Mahayana tradition, and a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his nonviolent protest against China's attempts to control his homeland, Tibet.
He points out two principles for secular ethics - shared humanity and interdependence. The Dalai Lama looks at the world as one big family, each and every one of us trying to find happiness and avoid suffering.
Three factors that contribute to human's well-being, according to the Dalai Lama, include: wealth, health, and friendship.
Though the focus of his book is finding ethics outside of religion, he includes insights from his own religious tradition. The basics of Buddhism are summed up in the Four Noble Truths: life is suffering, suffering is caused by desire, there is an end to suffering, the way to end suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path.
When we crave things, and become obsessed with satisfying our cravings, we create suffering for ourselves. Craving could take many forms - craving of food, craving for another person (lust), craving for approval or acceptance. A lot of times when we hear the term craving we might think about alcohol or drug addiction, but there are inner emotional, more subtle cravings that many battle on a day-to-day basis, too. Craving acceptance, I find myself living in fear of rejection. Living in fear is never a healthy way to live.
A quote from the book:
"We feel concern for those who care for us and treat us well. But when our affection is dependent on fulfillment of our own goals and expectations, which we project onto others, it will always be very fragile. So long as others meet our expectations, everything is fine, but as soon as they do not, our feelings of affection can easily turn to resentment or even hatred."
A lot of what is taught in Buddhism has to do with letting go of expectations (desire), living life in the here-and-the-now, putting an end to dwelling on the past and worrying about the future. The quote above demonstrates what can happen when we put certain expectations on people. I think compassion is to love people, without expecting anything in return, to do it just because you know it is good for you and good for them, and the right thing to do. Selflessness is the goal.
How we treat others reflects the way in which we treat ourselves and conceive ourselves
A quote from the book:
"Compassion reduces our fear, boosts our confidence, and brings us innter strength. By reducing distrust, it opens us to others and brings us a sense of connection with them and a sense of purpose and meaning in life."
posted by jcw at
7:49 AM
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