The book opens with an explanation for the author's impetus in writing. The Dalai Lama writes for all audiences, hoping to make clear the path to ethical success, which in turn is the path to happiness. He believes that genuine happiness -- the kind that endures and is not dependent upon circumstances -- is the goal of every person, whether conscious or not and that ethics is the path to ensuring said happiness. He even goes one step further to describe how genuine happiness can be described as inner peace, the result of developing a constant, genuine concern for other people. In order to make ethical decisions one must consider the decision's effect on other people, the intent, the act itself, and the motivation behind it. The point of these ethical considerations is to practice empathy -- sharing other people's pain -- and consideration for others, but this is practice, meaning it requires constant growth.
The Dalai Lama next writes more specifically about the nature of ethics as well as the obstacles that keep people from applying ethics to their lives today. He describes how negative or "afflictive" emotions are temporary disturbances which tempt the person feeling them to relinquish control, but the person must remain consciously in charge of how they respond to emotions. If a person continuously yields to negative emotion, they will develop patterns of negativity which will then affect how other people perceive them, thus preceding any personal growth with stigma and suspicion. Instead, the person experiencing afflictive emotions should identify these feelings, avoid emotional triggers until prepared to face them, challenge the origins of these feelings in order to gain insight, and respond with restraint. Just because a feeling exists does not mean a person is compelled to act upon that feeling. In the Dalai Lama's experience, the practice of ethical restraint means to choose to consider others' well-being in the midst of suffering, not to suppress negative emotion. He expresses the idea that perhaps people who present challenges to virtue and peace are merely teaching the challenged person "so pa," the Tibetan word representing the courage to respond ethically to adversity. For every afflictive emotion, there is an ethical opposition which can free the person from that negative feeling by returning their focus to compassion.
In chapter 9, the author discusses the nature of suffering. Naturally, people avoid suffering, but it is a necessary and mostly unavoidable component of this life; however, some suffering is caused by karma and is the consequence of personal decisions or the consequence of a decision made by one's society as a whole. Rather than lose heart in the face of suffering, either avoidable or unavoidable, the Dalai Lama advises the reader to examine the problem and implement a solution if one exists and to stop worrying if one doesn't exist. Not every problem has a solution, but worrying about suffering only produces more anxiety and suffering. If there is no solution, then this suffering presents an opportunity for spiritual growth.
Ethical decisions are based upon discernment, which must be cultivated through insight and skill. By continuously examining and challenging one's own motivations, one can develop an intuition regarding discernment. Whatever obstacles prevented a person from ethical success before, will become less challenging as the person practices discernment. The goal in all of this internal examination is to participate in the universal responsibility, to the benefit of all life. The ethical life is one centered in compassion for all people, which behaves with equanimity and discipline. Through voluntary sacrifice and humility, a person will increase their ethical potential. Concluding this discussion of universal ethics, the Dalai Lama explains that no one must completely change their life circumstances in order to embark on the path to genuine happiness. This path looks, instead, like intentional and consistent decision-making, one choice at a time.
The final chapters of the book reflect the author's personal insight concerning the ethical dilemmas of today. He offers opinions and specific opportunities for change regarding eduction, media, the environment, politics and economics, violence, and globalization. Addressing religion, he urges all religious people to work toward human unity. He believes in the possibility for peaceful coexistence of seemingly conflicting beliefs. Finally, he concludes by urging his readers to make their lives meaningful, a result of engaging in the path to ethical perfection, rooted always in compassion for the self and others.
