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Ethics for the New Millennium Reissue Edition, Kindle Edition

by Dalai Lama (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.7 366 ratings

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Don't miss His Holiness the Dalai Lama's classic book, The Art of Happiness, or his newest, The Book of Joy, named one of Oprah's Favorite Things.

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 would wish others only well. According to the Dalai Lama, our survival has depended and will continue to depend on our basic goodness. Ethics for the New Millennium presents a moral system based on universal rather than religious principles. Its ultimate goal is happiness for every individual, irrespective of religious beliefs. Though he himself a practicing Buddhist, the Dalai Lama's teachings and the moral compass that guides him can lead each and every one of us—Muslim, Christian, Jew, Buddhist, or atheist—to a happier, more fulfilling life.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In a modern society characterized by insensitivity to violence, ambivalence to the suffering of others, and a high-octane profit motive, is talk of ethics anything more than a temporary salve for our collective conscience? The Dalai Lama thinks so. In his Ethics for the New Millennium, the exiled leader of the Tibetan people shows how the basic concerns of all people--happiness based in contentment, appeasement of suffering, forging meaningful relationships--can act as the foundation for a universal ethics.

His medicine isn't always easy to swallow, however, for it demands of the reader more than memorizing precepts or positing hypothetical dilemmas. The Nobel Peace laureate invites us to recognize certain basic facts of existence, such as the interdependence of all things, and from these to recalibrate our hearts and minds, to approach all of our actions in their light. Nothing short of an inner revolution will do. Basic work is required in nurturing our innate tendencies to compassion, tolerance, and generosity. And at the same time, "we need to think, think, think ... like a scientist," reasoning out the best ways to act from a principle of universal responsibility. Like a merging of the care and compassion of Jesus, the cool rationality of the Stoics, the moral program of Ben Franklin, and the psychology of William James, Ethics for the New Millennium is a plea for basic goodness, a blueprint for world peace. --Brian Bruya

From Publishers Weekly

"This is not a religious book," asserts the Dalai Lama about a volume that's his most outspoken to date on moral and social issues. "My aim has been to appeal for an approach to ethics based on universal rather than religious principles." The Dalai Lama adopts this approach because, he notes, the majority of humanity ignores religion, the traditional vehicle for ethics, yet observation shows him that happiness, which he discerns as the prime human goal, depends upon "positive ethical conduct." The entire book, written in simple, direct prose, reflects this sort of step-by-step reasoning, taking on color and drama with numerous anecdotes drawn from the Tibetan leader's personal experience. Methodically, the Dalai Lama explores the foundation of ethics, how ethics affects the individual and the role of ethics in society. He resorts often to Buddhist principles (as in employing the idea of dependent originationAthat nothing arises or exists of itselfAto demonstrate the interrelatedness of all life), but also to native Tibetan ideas and, occasionally, to secular thought or that of other religions. The book represents no radical departure from his previous work, but it does present a number of forceful views on issues ranging from cloning to vivisection to excess wealth ("the life of luxury... is unworthy"), as well as personal flavor not seen in his books since his autobiography, Freedom in Exile. The Dalai Lama refers, for instance, to his unwillingness to sell his watch collection for money to feed the poor as an example of ethical limitation. With its disarmingly frank, kindly manner and authoritative air, the book is what one would expect from a Nobel Peace Prize winner, and could appeal as widely as the Dalai Lama's current bestseller, The Art of Happiness. (Aug.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA-The Dalai Lama examines the world, its ills, and its coming changes in a disarmingly conversational style that engages readers. With a perspective that should appeal to teens weary of negativity, he offers an encouraging view of the future, arguing convincingly that we humans are better than we tend to believe. Avoiding technical terms and dogma, he presents Buddhist values and ethics, chiefly the dynamic of compassion and a recognition of the "complex interlinking of relationships," in such a way that individuals from a variety of cultural or religious backgrounds can understand their application to modern dilemmas and personal choices. Chapters focus on concepts such as restraint, discernment, non-harming, and responsibility as they apply to far-ranging subjects including the environment, disarmament, religion, science, and education. In a world in which many historical boundaries are becoming irrelevant, he focuses upon the essential qualities of humanity that we all share and from which new forms of social organization can evolve. An important book for thoughtful teens to muse over now, and return to in the future.
Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In Ethics for the New Millennium, His Holiness the Dalai Lama asserts that the majority of people on the planet wish others only good will. He believes that humanity's survival has depended upon and will depend upon the essential goodness of people. His message is timeless, hopeful, and inclusive. B.D. Wong, who appeared in the film Seven Years in Tibet, is a soothing reader; his style interprets the Dalai Lama's words with compassion and love. The author, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, travels around the world teaching Buddhist principles and meeting with political leaders as well as promoting a global revolution of peace. His books offer the common reader and spiritual seeker an opportunity to share his vision of a better society. A very good choice for all libraries.DPam Kingsbury, Florence, AL
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Fascinated by science and technology as a boy living in isolated Tibet and certain that such advances would improve people's lives, the Dalai Lama was surprised to discover how prevalent feelings of isolation and despair are in affluent and developed societies. The more acquainted he has become with the West, the more he believes that the pursuit of material comfort and wealth is not only immoral but also leads to neglect of the "inner dimension," fostering emotional and societal chaos. In his most forceful book to date, the Dalai Lama responds to this malaise--which, along with American popular culture and computer technology, is spreading around the world--by calling for a spiritual revolution free of any religious trappings. Stating bluntly that it is far more important to be a good human being than to be a religious believer, the Dalai Lama encourages his readers to act out of concern for the well-being of others rather than indulge "our habitual preoccupation with self." This may sound simplistic, but there is nothing superficial about the Dalai Lama's argument or the ethics he defines. He possesses a deep and fluent understanding of the human psyche, and he writes about the true meaning of spirituality with unfailing wisdom and transcendent intelligence. His sophisticated yet commonsensical approach to spiritual practice does not involve rule-following; rather, it demands discipline. Learning to control negativity, the source of unethical behavior, is a "lifelong task," the Dalai Lama cautions, so practice compassion, share the wealth, aim for serenity, and don't worry about Nirvana. Donna Seaman

From Kirkus Reviews

This call to compassionate ethics fuses 1990s universalism with the Golden Rule. The Dalai Lama (Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama, 1990) bemoans the apparent erosion of ethical behavior around the world. People have embraced materialism, foolishly thinking that possessions will make them happy; they have turned to violence (both physical and ideological) because they no longer feel connected to one another. He calls for an ethic based on human interconnection. When we truly experience one another's pain, we learn compassion, which is the basis of morality. The exiled Tibetan leader is oh-so-careful to distinguish religion from spirituality; religion may or may not encompass the value of compassion, while spirituality always must. True happiness is based on an inner peace which is unperturbed by circumstance; such peace is only attained ``when our actions are motivated by a concern for others.'' We need discipline to look beyond ourselves and past the fleeting pleasures of immediate gratification, toward a more rewarding (and permanent) quiet joy. And although we try mightily to avoid suffering, pain can engender the empathy which unites us with others and makes morality possible. As His Holiness himself says, very little in this book is original. But his message is so often neglected that it sounds very fresh indeed. Simple but not simplistic. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review

"Like any good teacher, he understands that ethical matters are individual matters, that an ethical society is only the sum of its ethical citizens. We must repair our own hearts and actions, then work with our family, our neighborhood, our city, our state and nation, and on to the interrelated world…This book offers help, instruction and inspiration along the way. Its lessons can, just maybe, change your life." —The Washington Post

"Good stuff about having the right stuff... After the Me Generation and decades of cynicism, the Dalai Lama's optimism and courage may be just what the twenty-first century needs." —The San Diego Union-Tribune

"The Dalai Lama, in this spiritually instructive and morally creative book, gently leads readers to envision and strive to build... a new world wherein every sunrise promises increasing concord and peace." —Los Angeles Times

"The Dalai Lama illustrates his argument with examples from his extraordinary life, showing the same humility and gentle self-deprecation that make him such a popular speaker and spiritual leader." —San Francisco Chronicle

"Ethics for the New Millennium not only points to a valuable goal, it also urges us to take the first step in the direction of right action. The Dalai Lama does not merely preach compassion--he is compassionate, and his book is a generous gift to a very needy world." —Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

“As His Holiness himself says, very little in this book is original. But his message is so often neglected that it sounds very fresh indeed. Simple but not simplistic.” —Kirkus Reviews

“On paper… the Dalai Lama is a living incarnation of a Buddha, the hierarch of a government in exile, and a doctor in metaphysics. Yet the single most extraordinary thing about him may be simply his sturdy, unassuming humanity.” —Pico Iyer

“Although claiming to be only a simple human being, he is known the world over as a tireless worker for peace, a great spiritual teacher, and a man with a gift for conveying great truths in a manner accessible to all. His combination of genuine warmth, infectious sense of humor, penetrating intellect, and disarming humility have won him many friends and admirers throughout the world.” —Senator Claiborne Pell

About the Author

HH the Dalai Lama, the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, and both temporal and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, is one of the most beloved spiritual figures alive. He has written numerous books, including the New York Times bestseller The Art of Happiness. The Dalai Lama travels the world speaking on peace, giving Buddhist teachings, and meeting with political leaders. He resides in Dharamsala, India, as the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

From AudioFile

Nobel Laureate, bestselling author, and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, His Holiness the Dalai Lama presents a message of hope to a world lacking in spirituality. He truly believes the majority of the human race is innately good and has the potential to rediscover "original purity." B.D. Wong offers a powerful and reverent delivery of the Dalai Lama's heartfelt messages to the world. In a solemn and worshipful style, Wong effectively presents a personal transmission of optimism and happiness for the earth's people by way of an ethical system based on common sense instead of religious ideology. B.J.P. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B001IP0V5K
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Riverhead Books; Reissue edition (May 1, 2001)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 1, 2001
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 472 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 268 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #294,503 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #67 in Dalai Lama
- #72 in Tibetan Buddhism (Kindle Store)
- #268 in Tibetan Buddhism (Books)

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4.7 366 ratings

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His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born in 1935 to a peasant family in northeastern Tibet and was recognized at the age of two as the reincarnation of his predecessor, the Thirteenth Dalai Lama. The world's foremost Buddhist leader, he travels extensively, speaking eloquently in favor of ecumenical understanding, kindness and compassion, respect for the environment, and, above all, world peace.

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Robert Reid

transcends all religions

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2008

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Though self-consciously idealistic and at times maddeningly general, this book is profoundly insightful. What makes this palatable is that the Dalai Lama concedes his Buddhist biases, and then offers a framework for approaching to the worlds' problems (all of them!) that is independent of religion. Noting the danger of religion reinforcing self-centered notions, he references the common ground found in all religions, "overcoming suffering through the practice of ethical discipline and cultivation of love and compassion," and advocates that we learn to reconcile our faith (or atheism) with the multiplicity of other possible faiths.

In the first of three sections, The Foundation of Ethics, he highlights some of the world's problems, and questions material wealth as a solution to happiness, noting that material things may in themselves cause anxiety, frustration, and discontent. Though the humor was completely unintentional, I laughed at his recounting of visiting the home of a wealthy family and noticing the stockpile of meds in a medicine cabinet that happened to be ajar.

The second section, Ethics and the Individual, functions sort of as a self-help book, though it's pretty insightful in a ways that sound obvious only once you've thought of it in the context of a given problem. For example, he notes that most people assume "discipline" is something that you impose against your will, but points out that "ethical discipline is something that we adopt voluntarily on the basis of full recognition of its benefits." Later, he cites Shantideva and the central truism of Bodhisattva- basically, if you're confronting a problem that is solveable, then you must learn to immediately find the means to act on it; if the problem has no solution, then it's best not to worry about it.

The final section, Ethics and Society, is by far the most ambitious, but also the most inspiring. The Dalai Lama notes that children in today's society are brought up to acquire knowledge, but not to learn compassion. The negative impact of this, he says, can be aggressive competitiveness toward peers, greed, and scorn for the less fortunate. Astutely, he attributes this to the historical separation of learning compassion outside of school in church- whereas today church has declined and schools haven't picked up the slack. Realistically, he suggests that schools address this gap by offering students substantial practice in ethical debate and non-violent conflict resolution. He suggests that "On seeing his parents wrangling, a child that had understood the value of dialogue would instinctively say, "Oh, no. That's not the way. You have to talk, to discuss things properly."

The Dalai Lama's biggest challenge is that he places on each individual some level of accountability for the corrupt leadership we so often blame for our problems. "When people possess healthy values, and where they practice ethical discipline in their own lives out of concern for others, the public officials produced by that society will quite naturally respect those same values." The easiest criticism of the Dalai Lama (and my own, before reading this book), is that he is too idealistic. His answer, which unfortunately isn't that well backed up, is that ideals are "the engine of progress", that it is a mistake to always try to be realistic in politics as history is full of examples of positive changes driven by idealism.

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Ethics

Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2024

excellent book

Said the Buddhist to the hot dog vendor, "Make me one with everything!"

Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2006

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Very few religious leaders speak deeply about ethics in a manner that allows people to think deeply as a result. Too many religious leaders are authoritarian in their edicts about morality or lax because gaining converts and their money is foremost on their minds. (Yeah, I'm a little cynical.)

In this book, Ethics for the New Millennium, HH the Dalai Lama is the answer to the overly authoritarian and the insipidly lax. In it, he answers the question that lazy, greedy, or selfish people inevitably ask: Why should I live an ethical life? To them, living ethically implies being taken advantage of by the less ethical. They're wrong. Living ethically leads to being happy. You don't, however, have to be stupid to live ethically.

This book is divided into three major sections:

1. The Foundation of Ethics - in which the Dalai Lama describes how we are all dependent on each other, from our dependency on our parents when we were children to the interconnectedness of the global society. He concludes by discussing the most important emotion that we can express: compassion. Compassion and ethical action leads to happiness.

2. Ethics and the Individual - in which the Dalai Lama discusses how people can increase their compassion and thus their happiness in life. He says that to increase compassion, we should restrain those factors that inhibit compassion, and these factors are the source of unethical conduct. Also, to increase compassion, we should encourage love, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, humility, and so on. Sounds good to me.

3. Ethics and Society - in which the Dalai Lama makes the natural extension of living an ethical life as an individual and lays out routes to help change the world. Because every act has a universal dimension, because all things are interconnected, ethical discipline, wholesome conduct, and careful discernment will lead to a better world.

I'm not a Pollyanna. I don't believe that the whole world will be better if I act ethically, but I know that I feel better when I follow the teachings of the Dalai Lama, and I like the effects on my family. I don't let people take advantage of me financially or personally, but that is a matter of respecting oneself. Extending the hand of compassion, however, makes one a better human being, and that makes you happy.

I'm putting this book back on my nightstand to read a little of, every night.

TK Kenyon
Author of Rabid: A Novel and Callous : A Novel

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Terry A. Avalos

Absolutely Fantastic

Reviewed in Canada on January 28, 2024

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These are awesome books and I am very excited to read them AAAA

Denis Noblett

Excellent Service

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 2, 2022

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I love reading health and well-being books and this book was in the condition they prescribed.
Why pay for new books when you only read them once or twice when passing them on?

MARIE MARIE

qualite correcte

Reviewed in France on March 21, 2020

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je n'ai pas encore debute la lecture de ce livre, la qualite est correcte je m'attendais a un etat un peu mieux que celui recu

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Minting Liang

A good book in content and in condition.

Reviewed in Germany on September 22, 2017

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Although it is a used book, it contains no highlight or notes, but maintains in good condition. So happy to have it.

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rita kumar

ethics for the new millennium

Reviewed in India on April 7, 2014

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This book emphasizes the ethics which required to be renewed for new era of 21st century. only Buddhist scholar who focus to remove sufferings and open all the boundaries of nation and religion can focus like this

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