Beyond Religion

Ethics for a Whole World

By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Narrated by: Martin Sheen

Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Emmy Award-winning actor Martin Sheen (The West Wing) lends his distinguished voice to this stirring call to move beyond religion for the guidance to improve human life on individual, community, and global levels, including a guided meditation practice for cultivating key human values.

Ten years ago, in his best-selling Ethics for a New Millennium, His Holiness the Dalai Lama first proposed an approach to ethics based on universal rather than religious principles. Now, in Beyond Religion, the Dalai Lama, at his most compassionate and outspoken, elaborates and deepens his vision for the nonreligious way.

Transcending the mere "religion wars", he outlines a system of secular ethics that gives tolerant respect to religion, but, with the highest level of spiritual and intellectual authority, makes a claim for what the Dalai Lama calls a third way. This is a universal code of ethics that transcends religion boundaries, that recognizes our common humanity and advocates for a global human community based on understanding and mutual respect.

Beyond Religion is an essential statement from the Dalai Lama, a blueprint for all those who yearn for a life fulfilled and a better world.

©2011 His Holiness the Dalai Lama (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"An impressive guide for teaching religious tolerance and respect to readers of all ages." ( Kirkus Reviews)

"This wise, humane book, an original work rather than a collection of talks, is an incisive statement of His Holiness’s thinking on ways to bring peace to a suffering world." ( Publishers Weekly)

Spiritual!!

Inspiring and insightful. Its been privilege to learn about Dalai Lama's ideology and vision for future. I am looking forward to applying the lessons from book in my life.

Another Nobel Prize

I did not know he had so many books. I want to listen to his other books now. It was really great to have Martin Sheen as the reader. I love the Dalai Lama. I don't need to say anymore because everyone knows. Thank you for your wisdom and inspiration.

Many valuable life lessons.

Excellent reminder of how daily spiritual fitness is key to happiness. This book helps keeps me on track of what is really important in life and how to continue to be a quality human being.

2nd half was great!

First half was OK too. the Dalai Lama spends a good bit of time making the case for his premise--that a secular ethics is possible. I needed no convincing on that point, so I enjoyed much more the second half of the book in which he discusses what that secular ethics looks like and how one might cultivate it.
I think all listeners will find something to connect to and reflect on in this book. Enjoy!
p.s. Martin Sheen rocks

An excellent book for guiding our coexistence!

An excellent book for guiding our coexistence and developing our better selves through tolerance, understanding, compassion and mental training!

Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!

Would you listen to Beyond Religion again? Why?

I've listened to it twice and always hear something new. A forever audiobook...

What other book might you compare Beyond Religion to and why?

A New Earth, by Eckhart Tolle. These two men are the epitome of what life's best can be.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from Beyond Religion?

Insight into people, why they act like they do, what to respond to them, that my response is up to me, not to take their actions and turn anger at them, what I give out returns to me multiplied - every day, every minute, every situation.

Any additional comments?

Feeling stressed? Enjoy the peaceful feeling this audio book leaves you with.

Basic Goodness

What made the experience of listening to Beyond Religion the most enjoyable?

Martin Sheen

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Dalai Lama is leaving open a possible ethical future for humanity. The basic goodness and decency of that is the jewel.

What does Martin Sheen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Depth. Humor. Clarity. Warmth. Subtlety.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

We can change the world for the better.

Any additional comments?

Take a few hours of your day and listen to this transmission.

Our Ethics are Slipping

Would you listen to Beyond Religion again? Why?

I'll probably listen again out of respect for the Dalai Lama's position and the knowledge that he has given more time than the average citizen to his subject. And I'm sure salient points were missed in my first review.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The most interesting advice came from the Tibetan exercises for self-control and listening to others. Descriptions of the Dalai Lama's travels weren't particularly interesting to me.

Which character – as performed by Martin Sheen – was your favorite?

N/A Martin Sheen's narration was a big part of having chosen Beyond Religion. He's an intelligent, exceptional reader.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No.

Any additional comments?

The world is taking on some pretty important transitions in this century. I would encourage everyone to read to learn, and read across the lines of religion, politics, finance, nature and conservation and especially history.

Absolutely engrossing.

If you could sum up Beyond Religion in three words, what would they be?

Simple. Practical. Beautiful.

What other book might you compare Beyond Religion to and why?

I can think of no other who has offered such a global scope of religious synopsis tempered with scientific progress without advocating for one view over the other, as has been done for centuries. His Holiness offers a unique view, as he is uniquely qualified to speak to us as one who was born into an humble family, raised in privilege, yet lives in exile.

What does Martin Sheen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoyed the way that Martin Sheen emphasized words and syllables, with tone and timbre he caused me to forget that this was Martin Sheen performing and not the Dalai Lama himself speaking, many times.

Wisdom for our troubled world...

If you could sum up Beyond Religion in three words, what would they be?

Potentially world-changing.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Beyond Religion?

There was no one memorable moment, but the book was permeated with love and compassion for all beings, and the Dalai Lama describing his own internal struggles while taking a stand for his people and others.

Which character – as performed by Martin Sheen – was your favorite?

Martin Sheen narrated the book in the first person as the Dalai Lama. His reading was very clear and straightforward, as one would want for a nonfiction book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not really, but that's not the point of a book like this. I felt comforted.

Any additional comments?

I think that anyone interested in communicating effectively with someone of a different religious background--no matter what your own spiritual beliefs are--could benefit from reading/listening to this book. It's important, particularly for people who consider themselves deeply religious, to understand that ethics can, and indeed must, have a secular basis.