Sharing a message of religious tolerance and mutual respect, the Dalai Lama continues to share his message of compassion and understanding in Towards the True Kinship of Faiths (Hachette, 2010). Considering the world’s major religious faiths, The Dalai Lama focuses on the beliefs that should draw humanity together rather than those that divide and isolate.
Towards the True Kinship of Faiths
In Towards the True Kinship of Faiths: How the World’s Religions can Come Together, the Dalai Lama emphasises his message of compassion and hope. Viewing religious intolerance as one of the most polarising issues of our times, he puts forward an argument that a belief in the value of compassion underpins all the major world religions. By focusing on this common value, rather than differences in the practice and observance of individual faiths, the Dalai Lama believes that it is possible for world religions to work together to promote peace and unity.
In support of his argument, the Dalai Lama considers several significant world religious movements including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism. He refers to his own experiences in dealing with practitioners of each of these faiths as well as offering scriptural and historical references and information about the cultural significance of particular practices or religious observances.
He draws his examination of each of these faiths together in a reflection on the value of compassion within each faith. With compassion as a driving force, he argues, all faiths should be willing to come together for the greater good of mankind, treating each other with respect and working towards a better world environment for all.
An Argument for Inter-Religious Understanding
The Dalai Lama proposes an argument for the acceptance of a pluralistic world view, applying his arguments for respecting the faith journey of others to all individuals, including atheists and agnostics in his call for tolerance and understanding.
Towards the True Kinship of Faiths argues against religious exclusivism, proposing that personality, cultural and historical influences have shaped individuals to need different faith experiences.
The Dalai Lama argues that the ‘acceptance of the reality of other faiths is critical for the sake of peace and human happiness.’ He states that with modern communication, travel and access to information, it is no longer possible for religions to exist in isolation. As such, tolerance and respect is vital for individuals of all faith backgrounds to work together for the greater good of mankind.
It is acknowledged that some faith practices or doctrines may be unacceptable or incompatible with another individual’s beliefs, but this does not exclude the necessity for mutual respect and a spirit of global brotherhood and acceptance of the individual as a person having worth and value.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people and the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and is recognised and respected for his work as a speaker on the world stage promoting a message of compassion, hope and peace.
Working Towards World Peace
While those with strong religious beliefs across a variety of faiths may disagree with some of the ideas put forward in Towards the True Kinship of Faiths, it is difficult to deny the value of the underlying message that all individuals should be treated with respect.
Written with intelligence and a strong motivation to reach beyond cultural prejudices and thoughtless assumptions, the Dalai Lama writes in a style that is very readable and accessible to those wishing to consider the impact of their attitude towards those of different faith backgrounds and belief systems.
With a desire to promote global peace and harmony, His Holiness the Dalai Lama sees the message of this book as one of the most profound he has had to deliver to the world in his lifetime.
Review copy details:
Towards the True Kinship of Faiths (ISBN: 978-0-349-12127-7, 183 pages)
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