Sunday, July 24, 2005

RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY

«I believe there is an important distinction to be made between religion and spirituality.»

«Religion I take to be concerned with belief in the claims to salvation of one faith tradition or another - an aspect of which is acceptance of some form of meta-physical or philosophical reality, including perhaps an idea of heaven or hell. Connected with this are religious teachings or dogma, ritual, prayers and so on.»

«Spirituality I take to be concerned with those qualities of the human spirit - such as love and compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, contentment, a sense of responsibility, a sense of harmony, which bring happiness to both self and others.»

- His Holiness, the Dalai Lama -