A Force for Good Book Summary - A Force for Good Book explained in key points

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A Force for Good summary

Name: A Force for Good
Rating: 4.4 (56 reviews)
Author: Daniel Goleman

Daniel Goleman

The Dalai Lama’s Vision for Humanity

4.4 (56 ratings)

26 mins

Topics

Ethics & Morality

Table of Contents

A Force for Good
Summary of 12 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 12

What’s in it for me? Discover the Dalai Lama’s vision for a better and more compassionate world.

When you turn on the evening news, it’s easy to get depressed. All over the world there are wars, conflicts and overwhelming human misery. Is this really the best we can do?

According to the Dalai Lama, many of the world’s problems stem from a lack of compassion and moral responsibility; we care more about money than about each other. So how do we get out of this mess?

As these blinks will show you, when we learn to replace our own negative emotions with compassion and love, we become more dedicated to the well-being of everyone around us. If we take care to listen to both science and religion, and what they can teach us about how to live our lives, we can truly become a force for good.

In these blinks, you’ll learn

the difference between good and bad selfishness;
why we need a new, more compassionate economic system; and
what the Dalai Lama does at 5:30 in the morning every day.

A force for good will lead us toward compassionate moral responsibility.

Every day at 5.30 a.m., the Dalai Lama wakes up bright and early to listen to the BBC news while he eats his breakfast. While this might not be the morning routine you imagined for the Dalai Lama, he maintains that through this daily ritual, he’s come upon a great revelation.

Listening to the news reveals how full of violence, cruelty and tragedy our world really is. But why? The Dalai Lama believes it actually comes down to one single deficiency: a lack of compassionate moral responsibility. Today, we act out of self-interest and disregard our moral obligations to others.

Seems quite grim, doesn’t it? But look at this way: if humans have the power to wreak so much damage and destruction, then we might also have the power to exert an equivalent positive impact. This is what the Dalai Lama calls a force for good.

A force for good begins with individuals, and from within them. By creating an inner shift that diminishes our negative emotions and strengthens our capacity to act morally, we become better able to overcome impulsive reactions such as rage, frustration and hopelessness. This shift will also see us become more compassionate to those around us, and to our shared planet.

Unlike the Dalai Lama, not all of us are able to commit five hours a day to inner practices such as meditation – but we can still take some small steps. The Dalai Lama has fashioned a plan that each individual can follow. It begins with looking inward and managing our own minds and hearts. This will help us look out at our world and see the places where we can do good.

Reflect on your emotional responses to make better decisions.

Even the Dalai Lama had a short temper once upon a time. Of course, he learned to master his emotions, and he did so with a few techniques that are simpler than you’d expect. One important technique entails taking a step back when tempted to act on your feelings and considering the consequences of your choices.

In March 2008, the Chinese army shot at demonstrators and arrested many Tibetan protesters, particularly monks, during a series of protests in Lhasa and other cities. How did the Dalai Lama react? Of course, hearing such news would have filled him with rage. Nevertheless, the Dalai Lama chose to stay calm.

We need to become more compassionate to live kinder, happier lives.

Compassion and awareness go hand in hand. Now that we’ve taken a closer look at emotional awareness, it’s time to delve into compassion, starting with where the notion comes from in the first place.

In the Dalai Lama’s view of the concept, compassion is deep in our nature and does not come from religion. Think about it: even dogs and cats can be compassionate and altruistic to some extent. So why should compassion be bound up in religious institutions and their traditions?

Compassion in action involves fairness, transparency and accountability.

The Dalai Lama’s form of compassion isn’t the wishy-washy kind that is confined to holidays or Sunday school. Rather, he calls for moral responsibility in all spheres of public life, which includes having a profound distaste for injustice, as well as taking initiative to expose and reform corrupt systems.

Three principles exemplify such 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.

Science and religion make a great team.

Does it surprise you that the Dalai Lama routinely meets Nobel Prize-winning scientists, discussing intricate theories with the likes of Bob Livingston, David Bohm, Wolf Singer and Paul Ekman? Well, it shouldn’t. The Dalai Lama acknowledges the strength of both science and religion, and we should too!

Despite what we might think, spirituality and science are not mutually exclusive. They’re merely alternative strategies in the quest for reality. So why not bring them together?

We need a compassionate economy that blends entrepreneurial spirit with social responsibility.

Today, it’s clear that capitalism is far from perfect. On the other hand, neither is socialism. Is it even possible to create an economy 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. Rather, it's the lack of moral compassion on the part of the people that implement the system. Both capitalism and communism can be corrupted by selfishness and exploitation.

Both the privileged and the underprivileged play vital roles in creating 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 in society, 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.

An obsession with profit and our tendency to block out guilt has placed our planet under threat.

Would you burn your furniture to stay warm during winter? Of course not! Likewise, the Dalai Lama thinks 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.

Positive statements and individual friendships are powerful solutions for conflict.

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 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.

Children need an education of the heart.

What parent doesn’t want their kid to get good grades? Although it seems healthy to encourage children to pursue academic success, it can lead to immense pressure and emotional damage. In a world where academic achievement is everything, the Dalai Lama believes that modern schooling needs a reform that prioritizes the heart.

One way to educate the heart is through mind training. Mind training 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.

When things seem dire, consider the situation from a long-term perspective.

Though the current global situation can often seem quite dire, we’ve got a lot to be thankful for – it’s all a matter of perspective. Think about it: in the past, when nations declared war, citizens would proudly join in the violence. These days, people are fed up with the glorification of war, and strong movements for peace have shaken the political foundations of countries around the world.

Looking at things in the long-term can help us stay optimistic, even when the present seems overwhelmingly grim. The late Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker, a German philosopher and the Dalai Lama’s tutor in quantum physics, recalls how the German and French were once bitter enemies. Yet within von Weizsäcker’s lifetime, Charles de Gaulle, who had led the Free French Army against the Nazis, became close friends with the German chancellor Konrad Adenauer.

The power of change lies with individuals, regardless of their situation.

Being able to maintain a positive attitude is vital, as is the ability to act on it and persist. Rather than simply talking about creating change, we’ve got to just do it.

The Reverend Bill Crews runs a range of humanitarian projects in Sydney, Australia, from soup kitchens to homeless shelters and free health clinics, or even providing reading tutors for underprivileged schoolchildren.

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What is A Force for Good about?

A Force For Good (2015) reveals how you can swap your negative thoughts for positive actions. By taking a closer look at the Dalai Lama’s wisdom and vision, these blinks explain how individuals acting positively can together form a global force of good, driving change in our world through mutual compassion.

Best quote from A Force for Good

But our united efforts, if based on this inner shift, can make an enormous difference.

—Daniel Goleman

Who should read A Force for Good?

People feeling hopeless about the state of the world today
Fans of the Dalai Lama
Anyone interested in the benefits of mindfulness practices

About the Author

Daniel Goleman is an author, psychologist and science journalist. For 12 years, he worked as a journalist for The New York Times, specializing in articles on psychology and brain sciences. Goleman is the author of several books on psychology, education and science.

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