slireads's review against another edition
3.0
Fantastic ideology, I just wish it was a bit more in depth.
bakudreamer's review against another edition
3.0
I just couldn't love DL more ( I want to pick him up and carry him around with me ... ) This is ' value ethics ' , which has been kicking around since Aristotle.
bearlylupe's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. The author makes several good points, if applied, would benefit all of humanity. I highly recommend this to anyone who interacts with other individuals on a daily basis.
silent_coup's review against another edition
4.0
I was very intrigued to read a book by the Dalai Lama entitled Beyond Religion, and this book undoubtedly leans into that intrigue. His Holiness sets out a compelling argument for what is termed, 'Secular Ethics' which is essentially an ethical code that is independent of religious doctrine and built upon the core emotional underpinnings we have.
His Holiness articulates compassion as the key 'feeling' to foster. The author sets out a taxonomy of 'emotions' and how to harness their beneficial aspects while building awareness and resistance to their painful attributes. The book points to mindfulness as a core practice to bring awareness to our emotional states to help us better harness our feelings and foster ethically appropriate actions.
I found the book to be a compelling journey through emotions and also very surprising. You do not expect a religious leader to argue that religion is not necessary or perhaps even important. I appreciate the honesty of His Holiness and the book has spurred me to engage with my mindfulness practice more intentionally.
His Holiness articulates compassion as the key 'feeling' to foster. The author sets out a taxonomy of 'emotions' and how to harness their beneficial aspects while building awareness and resistance to their painful attributes. The book points to mindfulness as a core practice to bring awareness to our emotional states to help us better harness our feelings and foster ethically appropriate actions.
I found the book to be a compelling journey through emotions and also very surprising. You do not expect a religious leader to argue that religion is not necessary or perhaps even important. I appreciate the honesty of His Holiness and the book has spurred me to engage with my mindfulness practice more intentionally.
drsdon's review against another edition
4.0
As with most books by the Dalai Lama, I really enjoyed this. He argues persuasively, I think, for the need to rethink ethics and ethical living in a purely secular context. Not for the purpose of eliminating religious thinking, but to engage with more and more people in ethical discussions when such people are rejecting religious thinking outright. I think the Dalai Lama's point is that so much of ethical thinking has religious overtones that many people are opposed to even engaging in the discussion. But there is no good reason why such discussions should be limited to a religious context. To this end, this book discusses ethics from a purely secular standpoint, and argues very well at how it can improve one's individual life to engage in such critical thinking and reflection on one's own actions, and how that can lead to a better overall community and world. Worthwhile read for anyone interested in ethics and anyone willing to engage in activities and thought that will cause critical reflection.
mochila03's review against another edition
4.0
Half theory of secular ethics, half practical application. Good read for somebody interested in living more compassionately, whether religious or not.
samilearnstoread's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a good utopian vision of what the future of shared ethics could look like. However, it feels like a cursory explanation and would require a great deal of further discussion and research and writing to fully flesh this out.
jakemcc's review against another edition
4.0
This is a well written short book. The first half lays out how the Dalai Lama thinks the world should be to move beyond religion and, even without religion, be an ethical place. The way to do that is basically with compassion and realizing the interconnectedness of the world.
The second half of the book talks about mental training to do in order to make oneself more compassionate and a better individual. This is basically a book on introduction to meditation and gives good advice for both starting and keeping up with practice meditation. It talks about several different areas to focus on while meditating.
Overall this was a good book. I'd recommend it.
The second half of the book talks about mental training to do in order to make oneself more compassionate and a better individual. This is basically a book on introduction to meditation and gives good advice for both starting and keeping up with practice meditation. It talks about several different areas to focus on while meditating.
Overall this was a good book. I'd recommend it.
coreyln's review against another edition
5.0
Couldn't adore this book more. By the time I read this book, I was already in "love" with this Dali Lama's perspective. The title had me at "beyond religion". I'm not religious or anti-religion. I'm still not fully understand "spirituality" yet either. Not sure if that is the "other" bucket of believes or just religion without a prescribed accepted church affiliation. Anyway...exploring the concept of "ethics" was compelling.
People having a core set of values that threads its way through humanity is what keeps us getting along enough and growing towards a happier existence. I appreciate how a Dali Lama that is able to intellectually talk about not just Buddhism but understanding the benefits and short comings of any religion (or not having one specifically at all [are you looking at me?]. The passionate believe of examining owns own believes and that of others and appreciating that not everyone has the same specifics but much of the same desire [i.e. "Art of Happiness" by the Dali Lama] is what made this book an all time favorite of mine.
I raised my kids outside of an official church as I wanted them to not be one-track minded until they could examine and chose for themselves. If I had a "bible" or "core source of believe" of some kind, this would be it.
Side note: Once had a great discussion in the car on the way to work once with David and Bill about ethics vs morals. I still remember that frequently as I think about not only my behavior but the choices of others as well.
People having a core set of values that threads its way through humanity is what keeps us getting along enough and growing towards a happier existence. I appreciate how a Dali Lama that is able to intellectually talk about not just Buddhism but understanding the benefits and short comings of any religion (or not having one specifically at all [are you looking at me?]. The passionate believe of examining owns own believes and that of others and appreciating that not everyone has the same specifics but much of the same desire [i.e. "Art of Happiness" by the Dali Lama] is what made this book an all time favorite of mine.
I raised my kids outside of an official church as I wanted them to not be one-track minded until they could examine and chose for themselves. If I had a "bible" or "core source of believe" of some kind, this would be it.
Side note: Once had a great discussion in the car on the way to work once with David and Bill about ethics vs morals. I still remember that frequently as I think about not only my behavior but the choices of others as well.