"Even secular humanism has great spiritual resources; it is almost like a religion to me"

The Dalai Lama recognizes that profound sources of meaning, moral guidance, and inner cultivation can arise outside traditional faiths. Secular humanism, rooted in reason, empathy, and a commitment to human dignity, supplies resources that nourish the heart as well as the mind. Compassion, a sense of shared humanity, reverence for life, and responsibility for the welfare of others are not the monopoly of religions; they can be cultivated through a human-centered ethic that honors evidence and dialogue.

Calling it “almost like a religion” highlights function rather than metaphysics. Religion often offers a moral framework, a community of purpose, practices that deepen virtue, and a narrative that orients life toward the reduction of suffering. Secular humanism can do much of this: it can inspire service, solidarity, and daily disciplines of integrity; it can orient individuals toward universal human rights and the alleviation of harm. It may lack doctrines of the divine, but it can sacralize the dignity of persons and the flourishing of sentient beings.

From a Buddhist perspective that prizes compassion, interdependence, and mental cultivation, the kinship is clear. Spirituality here is not defined by worship but by the transformation of attitudes and habits, training the mind in kindness, widening the circle of concern, and acting wisely. Secular humanism’s alliance with science also provides humility and corrective feedback, helping ethical ideals stay responsive to reality.

The phrase also carries a gentle caution. Anything “like a religion” can harden into dogma. The Dalai Lama’s emphasis on open-hearted inquiry urges humanists and believers alike to hold convictions lightly, test them by their effects on suffering, and remain willing to learn.

The deeper message is an invitation to shared work. Whether grounded in faith or in a secular conscience, people can meet on the common ground of compassion, reason, and responsibility, building a world where meaning grows from how well we care for one another.