Rewards for Spiritual Excellence

I was just about to rush off to the station and get my ticket up to London and St. Paul's Cathedral when I had second thoughts this morning. If you haven't heard, St. Paul's is the latest venue for a big '"give away" - £1.1 million in fact, and it all happens today. Why did I cancel my trip?  Well firstly because I think it is very unlikely that the Dalai Lama would actually give his £1 million to me (or even my 'charity of choice') but much more seriously, I am not sure what I think about a cash recognition for spiritual excellence.

I have huge respect for the Dalai Lama, and might have been tempted to go to St. Paul's just to hear him. I am also very happy that he has been awarded this year's Templeton Prize. From what I know of him he appears to be a man of integrity with a sense of the importance of spiritual journeying. My concerns are not about him but about the Templeton Prize.

Apparently the prize is set at £1.1 million to ensure that it is greater than all the Nobel Prizes because of Sir John Templeton’s belief that benefits from discoveries that illuminate spiritual questions are bigger than those from other worthy human endeavours. The prize was first established in 1972. But hang on, do you really prove that spiritual advance, spritual excellence, is more important than advances in science, medicine, peace, or anything else, by throwing money at people. To my (simple) mind awarding £1.1 million to the "winner" seems to completely undermine many of the spiritual values that the Dalai Lama, and more significantly, Jesus, stands for. Am I wrong?  Would Jesus have turned up at St. Paul's this morning if the Templeton Foundation were trying to give him £1.1 million?

By the way if you are still interested to know who the Dalai Lama will give his £1.1 million to you need to watch the presentation live on www.templeton.org at 1.30pm (BST) today.  I won't be watching but if they mention my name please do tell me!