Introduction
In a world filled with violence, cruelty, and tragedy, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and hopeless. But what if we could harness our collective power to create positive change? This is the central question explored in Daniel Goleman's book, "A Force for Good: The Dalai Lama's Vision for Our World."
The Dalai Lama, one of the world's most respected spiritual leaders, believes that many of our global problems stem from a lack of compassion and moral responsibility. We've become too focused on personal gain and material wealth, often at the expense of our fellow human beings and the planet we share.
But there's hope. The Dalai Lama proposes that by cultivating compassion, managing our emotions, and taking responsibility for our actions, we can become a powerful force for good in the world. This book outlines his vision for a more compassionate and just society, offering practical advice on how each of us can contribute to this transformation.
The Power of Compassionate Moral Responsibility
The Dalai Lama starts his day at 5:30 AM by listening to the BBC news while eating breakfast. This daily ritual has led him to a profound realization: our world is full of suffering, largely due to a lack of compassionate moral responsibility. We've become too self-centered, often disregarding our moral obligations to others and the world around us.
However, this realization also brings hope. If humans have the power to cause so much damage, we must also have the power to create an equivalent positive impact. This is what the Dalai Lama calls "a force for good."
This force for good begins with individuals and starts from within. By creating an inner shift that diminishes our negative emotions and strengthens our capacity to act morally, we become better equipped to handle impulsive reactions like anger, frustration, and hopelessness. This shift also helps us become more compassionate towards others and our shared planet.
While not everyone can dedicate five hours a day to inner practices like meditation, as the Dalai Lama does, we can all take small steps towards becoming a force for good. The Dalai Lama's plan begins with looking inward and managing our own minds and hearts. This self-reflection helps us identify areas where we can make a positive difference in the world.
Managing Emotions for Better Decision-Making
Even the Dalai Lama admits to having had a short temper in his younger years. However, he learned to master his emotions using techniques that are simpler than you might expect. One crucial technique involves taking a step back when tempted to act on your feelings and considering the consequences of your choices.
A powerful example of this occurred in March 2008, when the Chinese army shot at demonstrators and arrested many Tibetan protesters, particularly monks, during a series of protests in Lhasa and other cities. Despite the natural impulse to react with anger, the Dalai Lama chose to remain calm. He visualized the Chinese officials and replaced their negative feelings with his own love, compassion, and forgiveness. By reasoning that acting out of anger would only lead to further damage, he chose instead to control his emotions.
It's important to note that controlling emotions is not the same as suppressing them. Bottling up negative feelings can lead to uncontrollable outbursts later on. When dealing with powerful emotions, it's best to stay mindful. Recognize negative emotions as they arise, and ask yourself whether these feelings are proportionate to the situation or if they're familiar patterns of reaction.
By understanding our negative emotions, we become better equipped to channel them into positive actions. This emotional awareness is a crucial step in becoming a force for good in the world.
The Power of Compassion
Compassion and awareness go hand in hand. The Dalai Lama believes that compassion is deeply rooted in our nature and is not exclusive to any particular religion. Even animals like dogs and cats can display compassionate and altruistic behavior to some extent. So why should compassion be limited to religious institutions and their traditions?
In fact, compassion is superior to and separate from religion. It's rooted in our biological makeup. The instinctive care parents show for their young, who would otherwise not survive, is one sign of a biological predisposition for caring and compassion.
Moreover, our bodies have built-in needs for positive emotions such as love, joy, and playfulness. These experiences help boost our immune system and lower the risk of heart disease. Above all, we're psychologically predisposed to seek comfort in affection, compassion, and a sense of belonging within a group.
Compassion has the power to shift our attention from our petty concerns to something bigger. This larger goal, in turn, energizes us and gives us purpose. By cultivating compassion, we can create a ripple effect of positive change in our lives and the lives of those around us.
Compassion in Action
The Dalai Lama's concept of compassion isn't a passive or sentimental notion confined to holidays or religious gatherings. Instead, he calls for moral responsibility in all spheres of public life. This includes having a profound distaste for injustice and taking initiative to expose and reform corrupt systems.
Three principles exemplify compassion in action: fairness, transparency, and accountability. By treating everyone equally, remaining open and honest, and taking responsibility for our mistakes, we can create a powerful form of compassion to drive our actions.
Compassion in action doesn't just mean relieving suffering; it also means actively engaging in rectifying wrongs by opposing injustice or protecting people's rights. The Dalai Lama encourages us to learn how we can reduce our destructive emotions while recognizing that feelings such as anger and frustration can also be constructive when channeled properly.
For example, the Dalai Lama once met a social worker whose group had been given too many cases, making it impossible for them to help any individuals effectively. The social worker became morally outraged, and it was with this anger that he motivated his team to protest and successfully get their workload reduced.
However, it doesn't take much for anger to go from constructive to destructive. One way to ensure we use frustration to drive positive actions is by maintaining basic compassion towards the person or situation we take issue with. This balance of righteous anger and compassion can be a powerful force for change.
Bridging Science and Religion
The Dalai Lama regularly meets with Nobel Prize-winning scientists, discussing intricate theories with experts in various fields. This might surprise some, but it shouldn't. The Dalai Lama acknowledges the strength of both science and religion, and he believes we should too.
Contrary to popular belief, spirituality and science are not mutually exclusive. They're simply alternative strategies in the quest for understanding reality. So why not bring them together?
Science has the advantage of connecting with individuals on a larger scale than any religious faith, as it's not marked by the divisions and conflicts of differing religious denominations. However, science still hasn't revealed everything to us about how the world functions. To better understand our minds, for instance, we need to meld ancient Buddhist sources with contemporary scientific findings.
Science can even give religious thinking greater credibility, even among skeptics. Though many people tend to dismiss Buddhist methods as "just religion," these methods have been scientifically proven to be effective in various contexts.
For example, Thupten Jinpa, the Dalai Lama's interpreter, developed Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT), a variation of classical Tibetan methods suitable for anyone. An evaluation of CCT by researchers at Stanford University found that it lessened people's anxiety and increased happiness, even in those suffering from acute social phobia. In patients suffering from chronic pain, the sensitivity to pain decreased after nine weeks of practice.
This is just one example of how religion and science can come together to complement each other's strengths and support each other's weaknesses. By embracing both scientific inquiry and spiritual wisdom, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Towards a Compassionate Economy
In today's world, it's clear that neither pure capitalism nor pure socialism is perfect. Is it possible to create an economic system that doesn't result in lasting social damage? The Dalai Lama believes it is.
First, it's important to recognize that most problems don't arise from the principles of an economic system itself. Rather, it's the lack of moral compassion on the part of the people implementing the system. Both capitalism and communism can be corrupted by selfishness and exploitation.
Our current capitalist predicament has led to a rapidly growing divide between the rich and poor. Economist Thomas Piketty's analysis shows that those with money to invest will always earn more than those who labor for their wages, leading to an ever-increasing disparity and inequality.
The Dalai Lama positions himself as a Marxist in this respect, as Marxism at least features a moral dimension that takes people's well-being into account. However, he recognizes that many attempts at socialist economies have proven disastrous. So what's the solution?
He envisions a compassionate economy where entrepreneurial spirit is accompanied by a sound social support system and taxes on wealth. In other words, we need for-profit companies with the hearts of nonprofits.
Such companies already exist. For example, Prosperity Candle provides refugees and underprivileged women with the opportunity to make a living by making candles. Similarly, Muhammad Yunus's Grameen Bank in Bangladesh pioneered microloans for people living in poverty, helping them start their own businesses and become self-sufficient.
Companies like these reshape capitalism into something meaningful, not just profitable. This emerging movement may prove to be very successful at turning business into a force for good, balancing profit with social responsibility and compassion.
The Role of Privilege and Disadvantage in Social Change
As humans, we all share the same potential. Unfortunately, we often don't share the same opportunities. Even so, both advantaged and disadvantaged groups in society are responsible for working together toward change.
Rather than looking down on marginalized groups, the privileged should do their part by learning about what resources would benefit the less fortunate, be it education, job training, or community support. Wealthier sectors of society can make a huge difference in the lives of the poor, simply by donating a little of their time and energy.
On the other hand, those who are in need also have a responsibility to help themselves, even if it seems useless. Many Tibetans have learned to approach their experience of poverty and oppression with this attitude.
In the past, Chinese Communist officials spread propaganda about the inferiority of the Tibetan brain, lies which some Tibetans even began to believe themselves. However, when given the same opportunities in education and the workforce, Tibetans naturally performed just as well as the Chinese. Realizing that they were perfectly capable of helping themselves, Tibetans freed themselves from this racial stereotype and started working harder at school, resulting in greater success and a brighter future.
This ability to improve one's own life is quite incredible, and psychologists have described this phenomenon in many different terms. Carol Dweck calls it "mindset": the belief that you can succeed. Angela Duckworth refers to it as "grit": persevering toward long-term goals despite setbacks and obstacles. Gandhi used the Hindi term "swaraj," meaning self-mastery or self-rule.
No matter what you call it, one thing is certain – circumstances only change for the better as a result of this powerful attitude. Both the privileged and the underprivileged have crucial roles to play in creating positive social change, and it starts with believing in the possibility of that change.
The Environmental Crisis and Our Response
The Dalai Lama draws an analogy: would you burn your furniture to stay warm during winter? Of course not. Similarly, we shouldn't be laying waste to our planet, as it's our only home. Unfortunately, our home has been placed at incredible risk over the last 60 years. Why?
An obsession with profit and money has seen humans' impact on the planet become increasingly damaging. Growing numbers of cars on the road, wasteful use of water, paper, and other resources, and the irresponsible use of chemical fertilizers are just a few of the human activities that are wreaking havoc on the environment.
There's no way we can continue pretending to be ignorant of the destructive impact of human activities; we all know full well the damage we cause. So why do we continue to exploit our planet? Because our desire for money often outweighs our fear of future risks.
For example, though the Chinese central government has tried to restrict logging practices that have repeatedly caused major floods in northern India, Bangladesh, and China, some people, in the interests of continued profits, have found ways to continue cutting trees that protect river systems from silt and flooding.
Cognitive scientist Elke Weber explains that our apparently shameless exploitation of the planet comes from our ability to block out the guilt we feel about our negative environmental footprint. As individuals, it's our responsibility to stop ourselves from tuning out.
One simple way to do this is by using a "handprint" as a way of tracking your personal impacts and the sum total of your better ecological practices. A person's handprint is a measure of positive ecological practices like turning off light switches or biking instead of driving. Each action can enlarge the handprint, motivating us to stay aware of human impacts on the planet and act accordingly.
By becoming more conscious of our environmental impact and taking small but meaningful steps to reduce it, we can collectively make a significant difference in protecting our planet.
Resolving Conflicts Through Positive Communication
Even the Dalai Lama concedes that humans will always create conflict – clashes of ideas are only natural. In order to cope with such clashes, good communication and mutual understanding are vital. In fact, it's easier to create a healthy dialogue than you might think.
There are a handful of basic moves that you can turn to during a confrontation with another. The first is as simple as saying something positive about the other person and something positive about yourself. This approach can help establish common ground and open up lines of communication.
A powerful example of this technique in action comes from philosopher A. J. Ayer. In 1987, at a high-society party in New York, Ayer was notified that somebody was being assaulted. He rushed to the scene to find Mike Tyson forcing himself on then-unknown Naomi Campbell.
Ayer insisted that Tyson stop, to which Tyson asked him, "Don't you know who the (expletive) I am? I'm Mike Tyson, heavyweight champion of the world."
Ayer replied, "And I am the former Wykeham Professor of Logic. We are both preeminent men in our field; I suggest we talk about this like rational men." While they talked, Campbell slipped safely out of the room.
In this situation, Ayer demonstrated commendable emotional intelligence. By saying something positive about Tyson and about himself, he established the foundation for an open dialogue on a level playing field, diffusing a potentially violent situation.
But what about conflicts that have persisted for months, years, or even centuries? The solution, while simple in concept, can be powerful in practice: friendship between individuals.
Social psychologist Thomas Pettigrew conducted an extensive meta-analysis, examining more than 500 studies from over 38 countries, with responses from a quarter of a million people. He found that time and time again, an emotional involvement with someone from an opposing group, be it a friendship or a romance, was enough to overcome prejudice.
These findings suggest that fostering personal connections across divides can be a powerful tool for resolving conflicts and breaking down barriers between groups. By focusing on our shared humanity and building relationships with those we perceive as different from us, we can create bridges of understanding and compassion.
Educating the Heart: A New Approach to Learning
In today's competitive world, parents often push their children to excel academically, believing that good grades are the key to success. While academic achievement is important, the Dalai Lama believes that modern schooling needs a reform that prioritizes the heart alongside the mind.
One way to educate the heart is through mind training. This is not the same as learning facts, figures, and historical dates. Rather, training the mind centers on improving a student's ability to concentrate, regulate, and reflect on their thoughts.
An example of this approach in action involves Simran Deol, an eleventh-grader who participated in a concentration exercise. Simran sat with her eyes fixed on a dot in front of her while wearing a helmet that measured her concentration levels. When her concentration began to waver, the Dalai Lama reminded her of the distinction between the mental and sensory levels of thought.
As Simran observed the dot, her mind was focused on it on the sensory level. But this focus was hindered by other sounds and sensations. To sharpen her focus, Simran began to concentrate on the dot within the mental plane as well, holding the image in her mind's eye. This simple shift led to a striking improvement in her concentration, demonstrating the power of this technique.
The Dalai Lama's proposed education of the heart covers several key areas:
- Understanding the basics of how the mind works
- Learning about the dynamics of our emotions
- Developing skills for healthy regulation of emotional impulses
- Cultivating attention, empathy, and caring
- Learning to handle conflicts nonviolently
- Fostering a sense of oneness with humanity
By incorporating these elements into education, we can equip children with what they really need: powerful, reliable ethics and the capacity for living by compassionate values. This approach recognizes that today's children are tomorrow's leaders, and by nurturing their hearts alongside their minds, we can help create a more compassionate and understanding world.
The Importance of Long-Term Perspective
When faced with the challenges and crises of our current world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and pessimistic. However, the Dalai Lama encourages us to consider situations from a long-term perspective, which can help us maintain hope and optimism even in difficult times.
Consider how attitudes towards war have changed over time. In the past, when nations declared war, citizens would often proudly join in the violence. Today, however, people are increasingly fed up with the glorification of war, and strong movements for peace have shaken the political foundations of countries around the world.
A powerful example of how long-term perspective can reveal positive change comes from Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker, a German philosopher and the Dalai Lama's tutor in quantum physics. Von Weizsäcker recalled how the German and French were once bitter enemies. Yet within his lifetime, he witnessed a remarkable transformation. Charles de Gaulle, who had led the Free French Army against the Nazis, became close friends with the German chancellor Konrad Adenauer.
These two leaders, former enemies, joined forces to support the formation of the European Union. Their actions resulted in a positive change in Europe that would have been unimaginable during the Second World War. This example shows how even deeply entrenched conflicts can be resolved over time through compassion, understanding, and shared goals.
Today, peaceful relations between certain countries at war may seem equally unimaginable, especially when we watch the news. The function of mass media is to inform us about current problems and threats, which can give us the impression that compassion among humans has long since disappeared, and that cruelty will only escalate.
However, we must remember that on any given day, the amount of kindness in the world vastly exceeds the incidents of cruelty – we just rarely hear about the positive side of things. If more positive news were spread, we might see that kindness, not cruelty, is at the heart of human interaction, and we might be inspired to act accordingly.
By maintaining a long-term perspective, we can see the gradual progress humanity has made towards peace and compassion. This view can help us stay motivated and hopeful, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges in the present.
The Power of Individual Action
The Dalai Lama firmly believes that the power to create change lies far more in the hands of individuals than in the hands of organizations, governments, or dictators. No matter how comprehensive a set of top-down changes may be, you simply can't force people to be compassionate. So don't wait for society to change – change yourself, and provide an example for others.
A powerful example of this principle in action is the work of Reverend Bill Crews in Sydney, Australia. Crews runs a range of humanitarian projects, from soup kitchens to homeless shelters and free health clinics, and even provides reading tutors for underprivileged schoolchildren. When the Dalai Lama visited, he put on an apron over his monk's robes and joined Crews in serving food.
This hands-on approach exemplifies what each of us needs to do: get involved. It doesn't matter who you are, where you are, or what means you have; we all have the potential to take action and make a difference in our communities.
The key is to start where you are, with what you have. As the Dalai Lama says, "Everyone can find a context where they make a difference. The human community is nothing but individuals combined." This means that every small act of kindness, every effort to improve your immediate environment, contributes to the larger goal of creating a more compassionate world.
Here are some ways you can become a force for good in your daily life:
Practice mindfulness and emotional regulation to respond to challenges with compassion rather than anger.
Look for opportunities to help others in your community, whether through volunteering, mentoring, or simply being kind to those you encounter.
Educate yourself about social and environmental issues, and make conscious choices that align with your values.
Foster connections with people from different backgrounds to break down barriers and prejudices.
Support businesses and organizations that prioritize social responsibility and environmental sustainability.
Share positive stories and news to counterbalance the negativity often highlighted in media.
Teach children the importance of compassion, empathy, and moral responsibility.
Reflect on your own actions and continuously strive to improve your impact on the world around you.
Remember, change starts with individuals. By embodying the principles of compassion and moral responsibility in your own life, you can inspire others and contribute to a ripple effect of positive change in the world.
Conclusion: Becoming a Force for Good
"A Force for Good" presents the Dalai Lama's vision for a more compassionate and just world, offering practical advice on how each of us can contribute to this transformation. The key message is that the power to create positive change lies within each individual, regardless of their circumstances.
By cultivating compassion, managing our emotions, and taking responsibility for our actions, we can become a powerful force for good in the world. This involves looking inward to understand and regulate our own thoughts and emotions, as well as looking outward to see where we can make a positive difference in our communities and the world at large.
The book emphasizes the importance of bridging divides – between science and religion, between privileged and disadvantaged groups, and between individuals from different backgrounds. By fostering understanding and connection, we can overcome prejudices and work together towards common goals.
Education plays a crucial role in this vision, with the Dalai Lama advocating for an "education of the heart" that teaches children not just academic skills, but also emotional intelligence, empathy, and moral responsibility.
The environmental crisis we face is another area where individual actions can make a significant difference. By becoming more aware of our impact on the planet and making conscious choices to reduce our ecological footprint, we can contribute to the preservation of our shared home.
Finally, the book reminds us of the importance of maintaining a long-term perspective. While the challenges we face may seem overwhelming in the moment, looking at human progress over time can help us stay hopeful and motivated to continue working towards positive change.
In essence, "A Force for Good" is a call to action for each of us to recognize our potential to make a difference. By cultivating compassion, taking responsibility for our actions, and working together, we can create a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world. The journey begins with each individual choosing to become a force for good in their own life and community.