Author(s): Dalai Lama XIV Bstan-'dzin-rgya-mtsho

Spirituality

In 1999 His Holiness The Dalai Lama published the bestselling "Ancient Wisdom: Modern World", which addressed the question of ethics for the new millennium. A decade later, His Holiness enters the contemporary debate about religion vs atheism, and returns to the theme of ethics with a major new work: "Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World". In this thought-provoking new book he argues that religion is not a necessity for pursuing a spiritual life. Rather, focusing on tolerance and understanding between religions, as well as tolerance and understanding between believers (of any faith) and non-believers is the way forward. The way to achieve such an approach, he proposes, is through a system of secular ethics grounded in a deep appreciation of our common humanity. Aimed particularly at the general reader, "Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World" is a modern-day polemic which outlines those ethics he believes should be central to our lives.