The Dalai Lama - on Religion and Spirtuality

I got this off the daily messages from 'Daily Buddhist Wisdom'. The Dalai Lama is my most favorite 'look up to' person :-) ... have you noticed how much he laughs, especially while being addressed by people, and journalists? -- He is so in touch with his 'happy inner child' ... and I find it fascinating to observe him :-)!

Here's what he's been quoted as saying about 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 From "The Pocket Dalai Lama," edited by Mary Craig, 2002. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

I'd like to add to the above that Spirituality comes (or must come) before religion ... I believe that if we take care of the spirituality part, religion will take care of itself.

Kiki ;-)
P.S. My request to those who 'borrow' from this blog is to please give adequate credit to the source of the borrowed information - whether me, or books and people I quote from. Thank you.