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)

Excellent message, well delivered

What did you love best about Beyond Religion?

I loved the message - in order to change the world, we must all become compassionate, and that compassion exists outside religious boundaries.

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

All was wonderful

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

no characters!

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

Compassion, and mindfulness are key.

Beyond wonderful!

I recommend this book to everyone in the world.

Regardless of your religion, this book helps us all to come together as human beings and to find inner peace in our minds and our daily lives.

I highly recommend parents listen to the words here and put into practice the steps to become better people and better examples for our children.

Only good can come from reading or listening to this book.

Everyone should read this book!

I appreciated how this book wasn't about any particular religion, yet gave a clear understanding to ethical living and compassion. The narrator was excellent.

Fan of the book, not the performance

Enjoyed the content of this book, but felt the narrator made it difficult to maintain focus.

Loaded with truth

The Dahli Lama makes a powerful case that religion and ethics should be seperated, with ethics taught as a regular school course. Once freed from religion, it can more naturally move to universal principals that most would agree with (respect, freedom, forgiveness, etc). He articulates rather nicely what has been rattling around in my own head for the last few years, although the Dahli Lama still argues for an important role for religion. The narriative is peppered heavily with anecdotes which sometimes miss the mark, but usually are engaging. I have to admit to it taking a long time to get used to Martin Sheen's voice reading these words.

Loved it!

Would you consider the audio edition of Beyond Religion to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, but the audio version is very nice to listen to. Martin Sheen does a wonderful job with the narration.

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

I love that the Dalai Lama doesn't talk down to you in this book, but instead provides rational reasoning to why would should find our human connections and how similar we all are.

Have you listened to any of Martin Sheen’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't listened to any other of Martin Sheen's narrations, but I would be more inclined to purchase an audio book if he was the narrator.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Nothing particular, but he makes very valid points on how to reach a reasoning in society that will work for everyone, regardless of religion or lack of it.

The Dali Lama wows!

Where does Beyond Religion rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The thoughts and reflections of the Dali Lama show a man who is worldly and wise beyond my expectations. I expected him to be more spiritual and have less understanding of the secular world. His good sense and connection to the world surprised me. His understanding of the problems we face and ideas for ways to confront them surprised me more. After years of fanatical religious rhetoric in the world from all corners, this sensible man and his deep thinking and understanding give me hope for all of us.

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

The voice of the narrator seemed like a great fit for the words the Dali Lama put together. I did not know till just now that it was Martin Sheen, though I did feel that I knew that voice from somewhere. His slightly gravelly timbre felt warm and friendly as well as very clear in his narration. I was happy to listen to him. Thank you, Mr. Sheen. (This is not a story so there are not characters.)

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

I haven't finished the book yet but when I do I plan to listen to it again. The idea that someone can be deeply religious and forgiving, accepting and welcoming at the same time made me feel refreshed.

This is the way of the future.

I believe that we as humans are capable of boundless and endless amounts of love and acceptance and the only thing holding us back are the boxes we place upon ourselves separating 'us' from 'them'. The Dalai Lama expresses the same sentiment and much much more in this book about ethics. He is stating that we need a set of ethics separate from religion. One that all religions can agree with but that does not depend on religion to exist. He believes that these ethics are a natural part of humanity and whether a religious person or not we all have the ability to live an ethical life. I cannot say enough about this wisdom and how well he speaks this truth. This Summer I will be using this book as the core of a curriculum I have created for my teenage son. I want him to understand these principals as he prepares to enter adulthood.

On another note, the narration was a bit funny at first because I have heard the Dalai Lama speak and am also familiar with Martin Sheen. So it took a while to get used to but once I did I think Mr. Sheen did a great job.

Character Quality Development

An important take away for me and I’m paraphrasing: If you want to develop or enhance a particular quality or ability in yourself, study the quality, its benefits. It will help you build your desire for it. This will help me build my desire to be with the stillness - to quiet my mind.

Fantastic. Brilliant. Enlightening. 100% Worth Rea

Fantastic. Brilliant. Enlightening. 100% Worth Reading.

I am at a loss for words to describe the great goodness of this book.
So I'll move on to the narrator. He was perfect, too. It seems he was truly enjoyed the reading, and agreed with what he was reading - 0% of it seemed like he was just spouting someone else's words without really thinking about them.
Please read this book.