Originally published: 1999.

I. The foundation of ethics -- 1. Modern society and the quest for human happiness -- 2. No magic, no mystery -- 3. Dependent origination and the nature of reality -- 4. Redefining the goal -- 5. The supreme emotion -- II. Ethics and the individual -- 6. The ethic of restraint -- 7. The ethic of virtue -- 8. The ethic of compassion -- 9. Ethics and suffering -- 10. The need for discernment -- 11. Universal responsibility -- 12. Levels of commitment -- 13. Ethics in society -- 14. Peace and disarmament -- 15. The role of religion in modern society -- 16. An appeal.

"In a difficult, uncertain time, it takes a person of great courage, such as the Dalai Lama, to give us hope. Regardless of the violence and cynicism we see on television and read about in the news, there is an argument to be made for basic human goodness. The number of people who spend their lives engaged in violence and dishonesty is tiny compared to the vast majority who would wish others only well. According to the Dalai Lama, our survival has depended and will continue to depend on our basic goodness. Ethics for the New Millennium presents a moral system based on universal rather than religious principles. Its ultimate goal is happiness for every individual, irrespective of religious beliefs. Though he himself a practicing Buddhist, the Dalai Lama's teachings and the moral compass that guides him can lead each and every one of us—Muslim, Christian, Jew, Buddhist, or atheist—to a happier, more fulfilling life."