Religious Ethics and the Professional Life: Education and the Educator Winter, 2016
Beyond Religion - Ethics for a Whole World by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Assignment: What is the point of the book?
"Due to the diversity of religious beliefs and social morals throughout the world, it is both impractical and of no benefit to attempt to dictate moral values. We must find a way of thinking about spirituality and ethics that is beyond religion, a way of thinking, relating, and being that can include everyone." ("Ethics for a Whole World", Study Guide, p.3)
"To my mind, although humans can manage without religion, they cannot manage without inner values." (p. 16) Using the analogy of tea vs. water, the Dalai Lama states we cannot exist without water-i.e., a sense of inner values and ethical behavior.
However, we can go on living without tea-i.e., ethics and values coming from religion. No matter what kind of tea or how it is brewed, the main ingredient is still water. Therefore, "we are born free of religion, but we are not born free of the need for compassion." (p. 17)
Requirements:Write a 5 page paper answering the following questions:Please restate the question in your paper. Guidelines: Use Times New Roman, 12-font double-spaced and have a Title Page.
• What does the Dalai Lama mean by "basic human values"? In your opinion, does the lack of basic human values contribute to the tensions in the world?
• What is the difference between empathy and compassion?
• How would the inner values discussed in this book help you resolve a difficult situation that you are currently facing? Discuss the effects of applying compassion, forgiveness, patience, contentment, self-discipline, and generosity when faced with a difficult situation.
• How do you feel about the Dalai Lama's statement "...when our motivation is pure, genuinely directed toward the welfare of others, our action will naturally tend to be ethically sound"?
• Compare and contrast Simon Wiesenthal's message in The Sunflower with that of the Dalai Lama in his book? Are there any connections you can make between both authors? If yes, what are they? If no, why not?