--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: According to the Buddhist tradition,” he…" description: "\"“According to the Buddhist tradition,” he began, “there is no sort of conversion or missionary work. It is not good to ask someone to follow a differen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/rodger-kamenetz-32290_buddhism_according-to-the-buddhist-tradition-he-b_2687221.jpg" --- # According to the Buddhist tradition,” he began, “there is… ![“According to the Buddhist tradition,” he began, “there is no sort of conversion or missionary work. It is not good to ask someone to follow a different faith. Yet, because there are so many different mental dispositions, one religion simply cannot serve, cannot satisfy all people.” quote by Rodger Kamenetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/rodger-kamenetz-32290_buddhism_according-to-the-buddhist-tradition-he-b_2687221.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/rodger-kamenetz-32290_buddhism_according-to-the-buddhist-tradition-he-b_2687221.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/rodger-kamenetz-32290_buddhism_according-to-the-buddhist-tradition-he-b_2687221.jpg) > ““According to the Buddhist tradition,” he began, “there is no sort of conversion or missionary work. It is not good to ask someone to follow a different faith. Yet, because there are so many different mental dispositions, one religion simply cannot serve, cannot satisfy all people.”” [Rodger Kamenetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodger-kamenetz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Buddhism rejects forced conversion, acknowledging varied mental dispositions. **In simple terms:** No forced religious conversion. Key Takeaway Respect individual spiritual paths. Themes religion tolerance diversity Mood open thoughtful Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - missionary work - personal belief Key Concepts philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster mutual respect among faiths? - What role does personal experience play? A Different Perspective Universal religious solutions are unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [According Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/according-buddhist-2629087/) [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Buddhist Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist-tradition-2629088/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversion Missionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversion-missionary-2629089/) [Different Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-faith-293948/) [Missionary work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missionary-work/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [One could surely argue that the Buddhist tradition, taken as a whole, represents the richest source of contemplative wisdom that any civilization has produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/one-could-surely-argue-that-the-buddhist-tradition-taken-as-a-whole/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [Shambhala is a Buddhist tradition with its own unique view and approach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/shambhala-is-a-buddhist-tradition-with-its-own-unique-view-and/) [Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/) > [According to Buddhist scriptures, compassion is the "quivering of the pure heart" when we have allowed ourselves to be touched by the pain of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/according-to-buddhist-scriptures-compassion-is-the-quivering-of-the/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [According to the Buddhist belief, you can go on and on indefinitely, so you see your life as just a brief moment in time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/according-to-the-buddhist-belief-you-can-go-on-and-on-indefinitely-so/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [According to Buddhist psychology most of our troubles stem from attachment to things that we mistakenly see as permanent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/according-to-buddhist-psychology-most-of-our-troubles-stem-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“At an emotional level, we feel that things should be happy and when things are difficult or painful, something is wrong. According to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krissy-pozatek/at-an-emotional-level-we-feel-that-things-should-be-happy-and-when/) [Krissy Pozatek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krissy-pozatek/) > [“Truth changes with the season of our emotions. It is the shadow that moves with the phases of our inner sun. When the nights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/truth-changes-with-the-season-of-our-emotions-it-is-the-shadow-that/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I don't have a problem with other people having different faith; my problem is if we confuse respecting that with surrendering our own faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-don-t-have-a-problem-with-other-people-having-different-faith-my/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [I believe that the fact that I am religious brings me closer to anyone with a different faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margrethe-ii-of-denmark/i-believe-that-the-fact-that-i-am-religious-brings-me-closer-to/) [Margrethe II of Denmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margrethe-ii-of-denmark/) > [It's important to note that Jesus and Christ are two different faith affirmations. Hardly any Christians have been taught that - they think "Christ"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/it-s-important-to-note-that-jesus-and-christ-are-two-different-faith/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“Don't assume you understand Naskar, unless you've left your seat to the elderly on a bus, joined the religious festivities of a neighbor from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/don-t-assume-you-understand-naskar-unless-you-ve-left-your-seat-to/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I was born in Quebec City, I've lived there many years before moving to Montreal and then Ottawa. And I mean, Quebec City is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-pratte/i-was-born-in-quebec-city-i-ve-lived-there-many-years-before-moving/) [Andre Pratte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-pratte/) > [Everyone thinks I'm so different, but it's a good different. My faith keeps me grounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabari-parker/everyone-thinks-i-m-so-different-but-it-s-a-good-different-my-faith/) [Jabari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabari-parker/) > [People of faith, people of no faith, people of different faith, that's what America is all about; it's bringing that diversity into and challenge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/people-of-faith-people-of-no-faith-people-of-different-faith-that-s/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [Atheists are my brothers and sisters of a different faith, and every word they speak speaks of faith. Like me, they go as far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/atheists-are-my-brothers-and-sisters-of-a-different-faith-and-every/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) ## More by Rodger Kamenetz > [Your dreams change. Initially the belly-buttons help establish the dreamer's predicament - the situation you are trapped in or held back by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodger-kamenetz/your-dreams-change-initially-the-belly-buttons-help-establish-the/) [Rodger Kamenetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodger-kamenetz/) > [Direct religious experience is threatening to organized religion, which often mediates it with a rabbi or priest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodger-kamenetz/direct-religious-experience-is-threatening-to-organized-religion/) [Rodger Kamenetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodger-kamenetz/) > [ “So," Art \[Green\] said, "it's hard to do Judaism and travel light. Judaism is not mostly about letting go, but mostly about attachment to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodger-kamenetz/so-art-green-said-it-s-hard-to-do-judaism-and-travel-light-judaism-is/) [Rodger Kamenetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodger-kamenetz/) > [I'm too intellectual. I don't think that the theological vocabulary is as important as the experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodger-kamenetz/i-m-too-intellectual-i-don-t-think-that-the-theological-vocabulary-is/) [Rodger Kamenetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodger-kamenetz/) > [In our society, to be obsessed with a vision about how to make a better automobile makes you a genius, but to be obsessed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodger-kamenetz/in-our-society-to-be-obsessed-with-a-vision-about-how-to-make-a/) [Rodger Kamenetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodger-kamenetz/) > [Freud "interpreted" dreams by treating them as intellectual riddles whose details, once processed through free association, exposed hidden wishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodger-kamenetz/freud-interpreted-dreams-by-treating-them-as-intellectual-riddles/) [Rodger Kamenetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodger-kamenetz/) > [“Our ancient sources of wisdom call on human beings to rise to their highest capacity and behave in extraordinarily open and generous ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodger-kamenetz/our-ancient-sources-of-wisdom-call-on-human-beings-to-rise-to-their/) [Rodger Kamenetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodger-kamenetz/) > [“We can’t choose our poetic fathers any more than our biological ones — but we can choose how to come to terms with them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodger-kamenetz/we-can-t-choose-our-poetic-fathers-any-more-than-our-biological-ones/) [Rodger Kamenetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodger-kamenetz/) > [Mainstream rabbis essentially closed the book on dreams by the sixth century, and Church fathers established that only certain saints have the discernment to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodger-kamenetz/mainstream-rabbis-essentially-closed-the-book-on-dreams-by-the-sixth/) [Rodger Kamenetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodger-kamenetz/) > [“The preservation of Buddhism is preserving your own internal heart. If Tibetans became terrorists they might win back Tibet, but Buddhism would be destroyed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodger-kamenetz/the-preservation-of-buddhism-is-preserving-your-own-internal-heart-if/) [Rodger Kamenetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodger-kamenetz/) > [A dream ignored is like a letter unopened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodger-kamenetz/a-dream-ignored-is-like-a-letter-unopened/) [Rodger Kamenetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodger-kamenetz/) > [Historically, the rabbis are split on the question of dreams. None of them denied their power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodger-kamenetz/historically-the-rabbis-are-split-on-the-question-of-dreams-none-of/) [Rodger Kamenetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodger-kamenetz/) > [Dreams are at the foundation of all religions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodger-kamenetz/dreams-are-at-the-foundation-of-all-religions/) [Rodger Kamenetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodger-kamenetz/) > [“The ancient sages said, ‘He who is angry—it is the same as if he worshiped idols.’ They also said, ‘One who yields to anger—if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodger-kamenetz/the-ancient-sages-said-he-who-is-angry-it-is-the-same-as-if-he/) [Rodger Kamenetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodger-kamenetz/) [Explore all 15 Rodger Kamenetz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodger-kamenetz/) ## More Buddhism quotes > [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Exactly. 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. My mom married a Muslim when I was 12, so I got teachings from both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/my-mom-and-my-aunties-are-really-devout-christians-my-mom-married-a/) [Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The extraction of discrete parts of Chöd teachings from their broader philosophical contexts is symptomatic of how Chöd has been incorporated into and transmitted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sorensen/the-extraction-of-discrete-parts-of-ch-d-teachings-from-their-broader/) [Michelle Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sorensen/) > [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. 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After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) [Browse all 6,100 Buddhism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“According to the Buddhist tradition,” he began, “there is no sort of conversion or missionary work. It is not good to ask someone to follow a different faith. 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