Ethics for the new millennium / His Holiness the Dalai Lama

"I am convinced that human nature is basically gentle, not aggressive. And every one of us has a responsibility to act as if all our thoughts, words, and deeds matter. For really, they do. Our lives have both purpose and meaning." -from Ethics for the New MillenniumIn this time of increasing violence and confusion, modern society seems to have lost its ethical direction. The Dalai Lama contends that what we perceive as a drift into ethical chaos is not caused by a loosening of moral standards, but rather by an inherent flaw in the way our morals have been structured: They were formed with the assumption that humankind, if left unsupervised, will perpetrate horrible acts.The Dalai Lama bases his exquisitely argued cry for a new look at society on the radical notion that human beings are "originally pure" -not originally sinful -and he presents a persuasive examination of our fundamental natures. In chapters offering helpful advice on how to enhance compassion, deal with anger and hatred, and cope with suffering, Ethics for the New Millennium proposes that if enough people operate from an understanding of their true nature, a global revolution of peace will ensue.