Buddhism Quote by Daniel Quinn
![“Westereners often think that the East is one vast Buddhist temple, which is rather like thinking the West is one vast Carthusian monastery. If the [Western people who like Buddhism] were to visit the East, he'd certainly experience many new things, but he'd find first, that the food is under lock…” quote by Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/691/daniel-quinn-1786_buddhism_westereners-often-think-that-the-east-is_269299.jpg)
““Westereners often think that the East is one vast Buddhist temple, which is rather like thinking the West is one vast Carthusian monastery. If the [Western people who like Buddhism] were to visit the East, he'd certainly experience many new things, but he'd find first, that the food is under lock and key and second, that humans are considered to be a miserable, destructive, greedy lot, just as they are in the West.””
About This Quote
Western stereotypes of Eastern spirituality oversimplify diverse cultures, leading to misunderstanding.
In simple terms: Assuming all East is one Buddhist temple is inaccurate.
Key Takeaway
Seek nuanced understanding of cultures.
Themes
culture
stereotype
misconception
Mood
curious
critical
Type
cultural
philosophical
When to use this quote
- travel
- education
- interfaith dialogue
- media consumption
Key Concepts
cultural relativism
identity
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions do you hold about other cultures?
- How can you learn beyond stereotypes?
A Different Perspective
Simplifications can still hold partial truths.
![“Putting food under lock and key was one of the great innovations of your culture. No other culture in history has ever put food under lock and key - and putting it there is the cornerstone of your economy.[...] Because if the food wasn't under lock and key, Julie, who would work?” quote by Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7d8/daniel-quinn-1786_economy_putting-food-under-lock-and-key-was-one_3142961.jpg)
![“[N]ow we have a clearer idea what this story is all about: The world was made for man, and man was made to rule it.” quote by Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/798/daniel-quinn-1786_civilization_n-ow-we-have-a-clearer-idea-what-this-st_60790.jpg)
![“The extraction of discrete parts of Chöd teachings from their broader philosophical contexts is symptomatic of how Chöd has been incorporated into and transmitted through other Tibetan Buddhist lineages. For example [...] Chöd practices gradually merged with pre-existing models of deity yoga, such…” quote by Michelle Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b05/michelle-sorensen-60370_2013_the-extraction-of-discrete-parts-of-ch-d_4303.jpg)