--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't use Buddhism to become a Buddhist…" description: "\"Don't use Buddhism to become a Buddhist. Use Buddhism to become better at whatever else in your life you are doing already.\" — Dalai Lama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/dalai-lama-89_buddhism_don-t-use-buddhism-to-become-a-buddhist_288395.jpg" --- # Don't use Buddhism to become a Buddhist. Use Buddhism to… ![“Don't use Buddhism to become a Buddhist. Use Buddhism to become better at whatever else in your life you are doing already.” quote by Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/dalai-lama-89_buddhism_don-t-use-buddhism-to-become-a-buddhist_288395.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/dalai-lama-89_buddhism_don-t-use-buddhism-to-become-a-buddhist_288395.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/dalai-lama-89_buddhism_don-t-use-buddhism-to-become-a-buddhist_288395.jpg) > “Don't use Buddhism to become a Buddhist. Use Buddhism to become better at whatever else in your life you are doing already.” [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker advises using Buddhist practice to improve other life areas, not merely to become a Buddhist. **In simple terms:** Buddhism aids broader personal growth. Key Takeaway Apply mindfulness to all pursuits. Themes spirituality self‑improvement mindfulness practicality Mood calm inspirational Type spiritual practical When to use this quote - career - health - relationships - creative projects Key Concepts Buddhist teachings personal development Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate mindfulness daily? - What areas need most improvement? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on technique can neglect deeper practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Don't try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist; use it to be a better whatever-you-al ready-are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/don-t-try-to-use-what-you-learn-from-buddhism-to-be-a-buddhist-use-it-2/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“Don't try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist; use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-try-to-use-what-you-learn-from-buddhism-to-be-a-buddhist-use-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To my surprise, Epstein seemed to be arguing that Buddhism was better than seeing a shrink. 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I feel compassion can help us overcome these disturbances and let us return to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/hatred-jealousy-and-excessive-attachment-cause-suffering-and/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [War is out of date, obsolete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/war-is-out-of-date-obsolete/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [We need to take action to develop compassion, to create inner peace within ourselves and to share that inner peace with our family and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-need-to-take-action-to-develop-compassion-to-create-inner-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [To combat hatred directed toward a person, a Buddhist cultivates loving kindness toward that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/to-combat-hatred-directed-toward-a-person-a-buddhist-cultivates/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The basic Buddhist stand on the question of equality between the genders is age-old. 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It enables us to remain undisturbed, even when the situation is really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-practice-of-patience-guards-us-against-losing-our-presence-of/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## More by Dalai Lama > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [In the interests of everyone the artist had a responsibility to use his medium well. 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So through that way, more concern of well being of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-live-within-the-environment-so-that-directly-relates-with-our/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [My belief is that the various religious traditions have great potential to increase compassion, the sense of caring for one another, and the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/my-belief-is-that-the-various-religious-traditions-have-great/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [When we think carefully, we see that the brief elation we experience when appeasing sensual impulses may not be very different from what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/when-we-think-carefully-we-see-that-the-brief-elation-we-experience/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“So let us reflect on what is truly of value in life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set our priorities on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/so-let-us-reflect-on-what-is-truly-of-value-in-life-what-gives/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I am the source of my own suffering, because of the habits of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-am-the-source-of-my-own-suffering-because-of-the-habits-of-my-mind/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) [Explore all 1,406 Dalai Lama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## More Buddhism quotes > [There are places that are very draining. 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I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [My mom and my aunties are really devout Christians. 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