--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My first encounter with Buddhist dharma…" description: "\"My first encounter with Buddhist dharma would be in my early 20s. Like most young men, I was not particularly happy.\" — Richard Gere" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/richard-gere-3534_buddhism_my-first-encounter-with-buddhist-dharma_475600.jpg" --- # My first encounter with Buddhist dharma would be in my… ![“My first encounter with Buddhist dharma would be in my early 20s. Like most young men, I was not particularly happy.” quote by Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/richard-gere-3534_buddhism_my-first-encounter-with-buddhist-dharma_475600.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/richard-gere-3534_buddhism_my-first-encounter-with-buddhist-dharma_475600.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/richard-gere-3534_buddhism_my-first-encounter-with-buddhist-dharma_475600.jpg) > “My first encounter with Buddhist dharma would be in my early 20s. Like most young men, I was not particularly happy.” [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator recounts discovering Buddhist teachings in early adulthood, noting prior unhappiness and a search for meaning. **In simple terms:** Finding Buddhism helped address early unhappiness. Key Takeaway Explore spiritual paths for fulfillment. Themes spirituality search for meaning personal growth Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - career transition - mid‑life crisis - mental health improvement Key Concepts mindfulness Buddhist practice Questions to Reflect On - How did Buddhist practice change your outlook? - What other steps helped you? A Different Perspective Buddhism may not resolve all life challenges alone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Dharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dharma/) [Encounters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encounters/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Young men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-men/) ## Related quotes > [It's one thing to be struggling and not really making money in your early 20s and figuring out your life. 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They've got to keep going into deeper, colder water, sometimes scarier, darker territories ... to stay alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/relationships-are-like-sharks-they-ve-got-to-keep-going-into-deeper/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [One of the joys of being an actor is that you're always learning new things. And I've been doing this since I was 19,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/one-of-the-joys-of-being-an-actor-is-that-you-re-always-learning-new/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I think people do want to relate their entertainment to what's going on in their lives. 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