Ethics For The New Millennium

Rating:
Summary: Toward a secular ethic...
Review: In his essay _Self-Reliance_, Ralph Waldo Emerson observes, 'In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts; they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty.' This seems an appropriate way to describe one of the feelings invoked while I read H.H. the Dalai Lama's _Ethics for a New Millennium_; much of the message felt as if it was intuitive and deceivingly simplistic. Recognizing the sameness of people. Alleviating suffering. Practicing compassion. Yet on closer examination, it is clear that the practical application of these truths in daily life requires rigorous effort.

At least by Emerson's standard then, _Ethics for a New Millennium_ is a work of genius. One that gently reminds us of the proper way to treat others, and shows us we already know the way. It is also a call asking us to recognize the need for a modern, common secular ethic which transcends dogmatic differences. The proposal is that by practicing individually the compassion for others we inherently know is the best way to live, and which is espoused by most world religions, we might inspire others to do the same. A skeptic may dissent, but it seems clear to me that this approach can do little harm, and has great potential for good.

While being an instructional text, I found the tone of _Ethics for a New Millennium_ conversational. One of my favorite parts of the book was a glimpse of the author as human being. In discussing his interest in watches, watch repair, and his watch collection, the Dalai Lama shows that he is much more a human than an icon - thereby providing an example of the sameness of all people.

However, I feel I got more out of this work after first reading _The Art of Happiness_ by H.H. the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler. _Ethics for a New Millennium_ is primarily a theoretical outline, with a chapter or two that can be somewhat challenging. _The Art of Happiness_ is written largely by a psychiatrist, and is based upon his interviews with the Dalai Lama and watching him at several speaking engagements in the United States. While presenting much of the same conceptual material, it does so with more examples from the everyday lives of individuals.

In short, _Ethics for a New Millennium_ is slightly more discourse than illustration, while _The Art of Happiness_ is slightly more illustration than discourse. For a newcomer, I would suggest reading them in the order I did; _The Art of Happiness_ and then _Ethics for a New Millennium_.

Rating:
Summary: Thinking that could change the world
Review: In these days of blame-mongers, moral relativity and self-interest, the humble message of this book resonates. The Dalai Lama presents a real-world message; not some kind of ivory towered fantasy of shiny happy people that I was half expecting. The Dalai Lama does not pretend that humans are naturally benevolent and philanthropic. His thesis focuses upon the age-old "pursuit of pleasure/avoidance of pain" incentive embedded in our psyche. The needs of a healthy society, he postulates, are dependent upon all of us living our lives with others in mind. That, and the fact that living ethically satisfies our personal values system of basic morality.

I found the concept of divorcing spirituality from religiousity to be exceptionally refreshing. He does mention his Buddist beliefs, but maintains that all religions have merit; a concept frequently missed by a great number of religious writers.

The book is sparked with wry humor and anecdotes that made me feel like I was listening to a kindly old grandpa telling parables to children. Not exactly the voice one might expect from a spiritual and political leader. The pace of the book does meander, but in a charming kind of way, like a nice scenic drive.

I think this book should be required reading for high school kids, world leaders, teachers, parents, CEOs and well, OK - every literate person on the face of the earth. I plan to buy a couple more copies and send them to my friends and family!

Rating:
Summary: Practical, Relevant, and Valuable
Review:

Every single person, and especially those with the power to harm others through their corporate or government roles, should read this book.

The Dalai Lama begins by recognizing that religion is no longer providing an ethical compass for the majority of us, and ends by recommending a world parliament of religions (just as some believe a world parliament of cultures is also needed to represents nations without states).

At it's most fundamental, this easy to read and very practical book is about obeying the Golden Rule--or a variation of the physician's rule, "first do no harm."

This is not a book for mantra lovers. At its most strategic level, the book focuses on the fact that the problems facing nation-states and entire societies cannot be solved in the absence of ethical restraint. Technology and law enforcement can address deviants in the minority, but not a majority that chooses deviance as a routine lifestyle.

This is the first book I have encountered in my religious reading that actively respects all other religions as well as personal ethical systems apart from religion. In essence, the Dalai Lama calls for each person to restore their spiritual base, either by honoring their chosen religion, or by adopting a personal ethical philosophy that is consistent with the generic teachings of various religions.

At a very personal level, as I read this book I saw clearly how my competitive and confrontational instincts, honed over a half century by a "dog eat dog" culture, have in fact hurt me and hurt others. I was reminded by this book that a Nobel Prize has been awarded to those showing that trust lowers the costs of business transactions--Fukiyama managed to get an entire book out of that one word. Reflecting on this book, and its measured discussion of how each of us simply seeks happiness and avoidance of suffering, caused me to reflect on how often each of us reduces the happiness of others and impose suffering through rudeness, harm by omission (not sharing useful information) and in other more aggressive ways.

On a global scale, and very consistent with other social science works on the complexity and inter-connectedness of the world, the book clearly addresses the urgent need for major world powers to understand that our existing life style and its damage to world resources is both unaffordable and suicidal. This book on ethics applies to Nations and to organizations, not just to individuals. It is a very elegant "dummy's guide to survival in the 21st Century."

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful ideology but a little long-winded
Review: The Dalai Lama writes in a very tranquil, and fairly long-winded manner. For me, therefore, the book was a bit difficult to get through (something that could have been said in one sentence, was carried out for 2-3 paragraphs - this could be due to the translation). Most of what he discussed seems to be common sense - ideals that most of us want to achieve in order to establish a more peaceful existence. I wasn't overly blown away by anything he wrote, although I was amazed at the calmness that reverberated throughout his words. The man seems to have no anger within him, and in that sense, reading this book has a rather calming effect; but for some reason I had a difficult time getting through his long-windedness, at times I found myself skimming in order to get to his next idea or topic.

Rating:
Summary: Honesty and simplicity to calm the racing mind.
Review: Don't let the simplicity of this book overshadow the power of its message: "When the driving force of our actions is wholesome, our actions will tend automatically to contribute to others' well-being. They will thus automatically be ethical." With the courage to point out that religion is not a requirement for ethical behavior, the Dalai Dama discusses virtue, compassion, and our spiritual connection to the world. He does so as a simple and honest man without holding himself as holier than anyone else. Describing how humans can make a constructive difference on the planet, he appeals to people to tap their highest potential and to go for their personal goodness, despite the social currents that discourage one from doing so.

This is a book about discovering your ethics rather than just acting out cultural norms. If you appreciate simplicity of style and communication based on real substance, allow me to also recommend "WORKING ON YOURSELF DOESN'T WORK" by Ariel and Shya Kane. In an age of widespread doubt, these two books are refreshing reminders that the principles underlying a fulfilling life are both simple and practical.

Rating:
Summary: Old Truths Hung on a New Frame
Review: It would appear that the forced exile of the Dalai Lama has awakened a sleeping giant. His Holiness has learned much in the intervening years and now passes on his observations to the world. This is a book that can be of extreme value to the world. The book crosses all religious lines. Those of good will can readily see this and can expand the truths and dimensions of their own beliefs. All that remains is to put the good into action.

Rating:
Summary: Wisdom & Reality
Review: This work, much like his others, is comforting and enlightening. His Holiness has such a disarming and realistic view of the world and the way in which we should relate to others. Being part of the Western World and a capitalistic society, we can all use a little love, compassion and confirmation of our true interrelatedness with other people and creatures around us. Without bias and speaking from the heart, His Holiness the Dalai Lama encourages us to shed the skin of bigotry and learned hatred and tap into the core of our compassionate heart. Believing in yourself and your own thoughts instead of what is engrained into our subconcious and ruling mental compartments is crucial (and not superficial or cheesy) if we are to truly make a change in the world. Love comes back to the giver tenfold.

Peace,

Brynosaurus

Rating:
Summary: Will heighten your awareness - painlessly
Review: I found this book enlightening on a couple of levels. The most profound was the revelations regarding what every person is looking for in terms of happiness. The second was the return to values that bring the entire community into the daily trials of our lives. Remembering that we are all connected and we should always remember that considerations should extend beyond our visual range.

Rating:
Summary: A Message of Hope
Review: Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, is certainly not a literary artist, but he is a brilliant struggler for Peace. "Ethics for the New Millennium" is one of his many "outcries" for an ethical system which demands a re-evaluation of our society, a setting of new higher goals in which interdependency of everyone's action will lead to a better world. The task ahead requires discipline, development of spiritual values (love, compassion, generosity, tolerance), and a firm belief in the natural-born goodness of human beings. It is a message not only to be read but upon which action is demanded, a message much needed in our society and not to be considered utopian. May the reader enjoy it and share with the writer his hopes for an ethical improvement worldwide.

Rating:
Summary: Good Ideas, But . . .
Review: The ideas that the 14th Dalai Lama suggests in this book are excellent, but the main problem, as always in the case of ethics, is that the people who are most likely to read this book are the ones who are least likely to need this advice; and the ones who most need to follow these suggestions are those who are least likely to bother. The approach is here is purely ethical -- there is really no talk of religion, and this makes the book equally applicable to Buddhist, Jew, Hindoo, Jain, Parsee, Christian, Muslim, Wiccan, Satanist, Setian, Santerian, agnostic, atheist and so on. The idea he uses is that regardless of one's religious or philosophical persuasions, that everyone is seeking after happiness, and that certain forms of conduct are more conducive to one's own happiness as well as to the happiness of others. One of the primary things that he emphasises is the state of one's heart and mind in the performing of any deed -- in law this would be called motive or intent, and for practical purposes, it could be called "goodwill", but the Dalai Lama chooses to introduce some rather unhelpful Tibetan terms instead. The measure of the morality of an action is based upon the goodwill and intent of the person performing the action. Thus any sort of action that a person performs, to be purely ethical, must be accompanied by goodwill and the intent of non-injury to others. This requires also not returning evil for evil, so in effect, what he is doing is merely restating Kant's categorical imperative in a much less intimidating and accessible way, but he does not seem to realise that the purging of all ill-will and lack of compassion and love from a person's heart is really a lifelong task which most people never are able to fully accomplish. Loving your enemies, having respect for others regardless of their actions and feeling a sense of goodwill towards all are wonderful concepts, and make great ideals to strive towards, but to put them into practice is very difficult. To change the state of one's heart is no small undertaking and it is something that requires continual vigilance, self-possession and effort -- especially when one is under pressure to do the exact opposite by one's natural instincts. As always, we know what needs to be done, bu how exactly we are to do it -- how we are to put it into practice in our daily lives -- this is the problem, and it remains unsolved here as always. The Dalai Lama himself is a good example of what he is suggesting -- despite most of his friends being butchered by the Chinese during the invasion and takeover of Tibet, and being forced from his homeland, he seems to have no sense of hostility or hatred towards the Chinese . . . but this is something that occurs within the heart of the individual . . . how many of us in similar situations would be able to react in the same way . . . even if we wanted to? Emotions are not usually subject to reason. This book is great for forming a sort of ideal to live by, but then again there is a huge difference between ideals and praxis, and the uniting of the one with the other requires a mastery of the self, and not merely a set of rules to follow, and that is a very tall order. A good read, but offers no real solutions as all solutions are within each and every one of us -- and for his ideas to work, people have to make momentous efforts to apply them within their own lives -- not just a few here and there, but all of us -- and that is now, as it has always been, the real problem of ethics. The people who read books like this are already trying to master themselves, and thus do not need such books. Those who cause most of the hurt and strife in the world will not even bother. Still, the best any of us can do is to change ourselves. As Gandhiji once said: "You must be the change that you wish to see". But it is still much, much easier said than done.