--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am against conversion (to Buddhism). In…" description: "\"I am against conversion (to Buddhism). In my speech at UN, the first thing I said was that I am for conversion, but not from one organised religion to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/s-n-goenka-25258_bondage_i-am-against-conversion-to-buddhism-in-m_1668061.jpg" --- # I am against conversion (to Buddhism). In my speech at UN… ![“I am against conversion (to Buddhism). In my speech at UN, the first thing I said was that I am for conversion, but not from one organised religion to another, but from misery to happiness, from bondage to liberation.” quote by S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/s-n-goenka-25258_bondage_i-am-against-conversion-to-buddhism-in-m_1668061.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/s-n-goenka-25258_bondage_i-am-against-conversion-to-buddhism-in-m_1668061.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/s-n-goenka-25258_bondage_i-am-against-conversion-to-buddhism-in-m_1668061.jpg) > “I am against conversion (to Buddhism). In my speech at UN, the first thing I said was that I am for conversion, but not from one organised religion to another, but from misery to happiness, from bondage to liberation.” [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Calls for conversion from suffering to freedom, emphasizing inner liberation over changing external religious affiliations. **In simple terms:** Seek freedom from misery, not merely a new religion. Key Takeaway Pursue inner happiness and freedom. Themes spirituality freedom inner peace transformation Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - addiction recovery - mental health counseling Key Concepts Buddhism humanism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What internal suffering are you ready to let go? - How can you support others in finding inner freedom? A Different Perspective Conversion may be resisted if external identity feels threatened. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bondage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bondage/) [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversion/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Liberation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberation/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Organised religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organised-religion/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Vipassana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vipassana/) ## Related quotes > [Rather than converting people from one organised religion to another organised religion, we should try to convert people from misery to happiness, from bondage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/rather-than-converting-people-from-one-organised-religion-to-another/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [I love the idea of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the beautiful stories about it, which I loved in Sunday school and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-love-the-idea-of-the-teachings-of-jesus-christ-and-the-beautiful/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I don't subscribe to organised religion. I've travelled enough to see that adherents of organised religion often attack adherents of other religions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-vollmann/i-don-t-subscribe-to-organised-religion-i-ve-travelled-enough-to-see/) [William T. Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/) > [My interest in gospel music and liturgical art and Biblically-inspired literature has nothing to do with organised religion and everything to do with human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/my-interest-in-gospel-music-and-liturgical-art-and-biblically/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [Organised religion, organised anything, requires commitment and requires an engagement with something. A lot of the time, we don't want to commit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/organised-religion-organised-anything-requires-commitment-and/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [But I don't believe in organised politics, organised religion, organised music, organised anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/link-wray/but-i-don-t-believe-in-organised-politics-organised-religion/) [Link Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/link-wray/) > [Organised religion tries to control, so therefore must be lying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/organised-religion-tries-to-control-so-therefore-must-be-lying/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [I'm not religious. I was as a child, and like lots of people, I suppose, rapidly became very disillusioned with the whole thing. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/i-m-not-religious-i-was-as-a-child-and-like-lots-of-people-i-suppose/) [Natascha McElhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) > [Philip is being very vocal about it. For me, I don't think the story isn't at all anti-religious in any way. I think what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-craig/philip-is-being-very-vocal-about-it-for-me-i-don-t-think-the-story/) [Daniel Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-craig/) > [I have the greatest love for the rituals of organised religion - the sense of community and belonging it can confer to people. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-bedi/i-have-the-greatest-love-for-the-rituals-of-organised-religion-the/) [Kabir Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-bedi/) > [I'm an atheist .I was raised in British reform Judaism, which is not like American reform Judaism, much less any other strain of organised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/i-m-an-atheist-i-was-raised-in-british-reform-judaism-which-is-not/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [In Europe, where climate change absolutism is at its strongest, the quasi-religion of greenery in general and the climate change issue in particular have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lawson/in-europe-where-climate-change-absolutism-is-at-its-strongest-the/) [Nigel Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lawson/) > [I'm against organised religion of any kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-parfitt/i-m-against-organised-religion-of-any-kind/) [Judy Parfitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-parfitt/) > [Admittedly, I do have several bones... whole war fields full of bones, in fact... to pick with organised religion of whatever stripe. This should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/admittedly-i-do-have-several-bones-whole-war-fields-full-of-bones-in/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [One step closer to the end of the world. The one-two combo of corporate greed and organised religion apparently proved to be too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/one-step-closer-to-the-end-of-the-world-the-one-two-combo-of/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) ## More by S. N. Goenka > [In meditation you withdraw from others and focus your attention inside to gain purity of mind and wisdom energy. Then you must become extroverted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/in-meditation-you-withdraw-from-others-and-focus-your-attention/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [For real happiness, for real lasting stable happiness, one has to make a journey deep within oneself and see that one gets rid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/for-real-happiness-for-real-lasting-stable-happiness-one-has-to-make/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [One has to live in the present. Whatever is past is gone beyond recall; whatever is future remains beyond one's reach, until it becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/one-has-to-live-in-the-present-whatever-is-past-is-gone-beyond-recall/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [Observe the reality as it is. As it is, not as you wish it to be. Perhaps your breath is deep. Perhaps your breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/observe-the-reality-as-it-is-as-it-is-not-as-you-wish-it-to-be/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [Peace and negativity cannot coexist just as light and darkness cannot coexist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/peace-and-negativity-cannot-coexist-just-as-light-and-darkness-cannot/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [Discover real peace and harmony within yourself, and naturally this will overflow to benefit others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/discover-real-peace-and-harmony-within-yourself-and-naturally-this/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [Work diligently. Diligently. Work patiently and persistently. Patiently and persistently. And you're bound to be successful. Bound to be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/work-diligently-diligently-work-patiently-and-persistently-patiently/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [When I observe myself and find that I am generating anger, ill will, or animosity, I realize that I am the first victim of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/when-i-observe-myself-and-find-that-i-am-generating-anger-ill-will-or/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [The Buddha never taught a sectarian religion; he taught Dhamma - the way to liberation - which is universal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/the-buddha-never-taught-a-sectarian-religion-he-taught-dhamma-the-way/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [We cannot live in the past; it is gone. Nor can we live in the future; it is forever beyond our grasp. We can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/we-cannot-live-in-the-past-it-is-gone-nor-can-we-live-in-the-future/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [The only conversion involved in Vipassana is from misery to happiness, from bondage to liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/the-only-conversion-involved-in-vipassana-is-from-misery-to-happiness/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [Real wisdom is recognizing and accepting that every experience is impermanent. With this insight you will not be overwhelmed by ups and downs. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/real-wisdom-is-recognizing-and-accepting-that-every-experience-is/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [The mind spends most of the time lost in fantasies and illusions, reliving pleasant or unpleasant experiences and anticipating the future with eagerness or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/the-mind-spends-most-of-the-time-lost-in-fantasies-and-illusions/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [One learns the art of dying by learning the art of living: how to become master of the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/one-learns-the-art-of-dying-by-learning-the-art-of-living-how-to/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [It is a basic human need that everyone wants to live a happy life. For this, one has to experience real happiness. The so-called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/it-is-a-basic-human-need-that-everyone-wants-to-live-a-happy-life-for/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) [Explore all 23 S. N. Goenka quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) ## More Bondage quotes > [Just a decade after 'Living in Bondage,' Nollywood films, made in some 300 languages, were being watched in both urban and rural areas, distributed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-flock/just-a-decade-after-living-in-bondage-nollywood-films-made-in-some/) [Elizabeth Flock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-flock/) > [The awakening of the soul to its bondage and its effort to stand up and assert itself - this is called life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-awakening-of-the-soul-to-its-bondage-and-its-effort-to-stand-up/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Too long have the workers of the world waited for some Moses to lead them out of bondage. I would not lead you out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/too-long-have-the-workers-of-the-world-waited-for-some-moses-to-lead/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation. Let this be one aspect of our daily intercession: "God, preserve my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/if-we-do-not-abide-in-prayer-we-will-abide-in-temptation-let-this-be/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [According to Jains the soul in pure form has infiniteness in terms of its knowledge and power. These faculties are obstructed for its exhibition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virchand-gandhi/according-to-jains-the-soul-in-pure-form-has-infiniteness-in-terms-of/) [Virchand Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virchand-gandhi/) > [The strongest reason for giving woman all the opportunities of higher education, for the full development of her faculties, forces of mind and body;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-strongest-reason-for-giving-woman-all-the-opportunities-of-higher/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [Every step into freedom contains within it the potential for greater bondage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/every-step-into-freedom-contains-within-it-the-potential-for-greater/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“This is a disturbing fetish, Vin," he says, coming up for air. "Why can't you be into bondage like everyone else?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmond-manning/this-is-a-disturbing-fetish-vin-he-says-coming-up-for-air-why-can-t/) [Edmond Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmond-manning/) > [Advanced meditators are not even desirous of liberation anymore - that is just another attachment. There is no liberation. There is no bondage. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/advanced-meditators-are-not-even-desirous-of-liberation-anymore-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Slavery is slavery. The chain of gold is quite as bad as the chain of iron. Is there a way out?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/slavery-is-slavery-the-chain-of-gold-is-quite-as-bad-as-the-chain-of/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Woman has so long been subject to the disabilities and restrictions with which her progress has been embarrassed that she has become enervated, her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/woman-has-so-long-been-subject-to-the-disabilities-and-restrictions/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [To my mind, the main reason for the Depression in the United States as a whole, is the bondage of debt and the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heber-j-grant/to-my-mind-the-main-reason-for-the-depression-in-the-united-states-as/) [Heber J. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heber-j-grant/) > [Our life is a reflection of what we believe we deserve. As we deepen our acceptance of and open ourselves to the Infinite love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/our-life-is-a-reflection-of-what-we-believe-we-deserve-as-we-deepen/) [Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/) > [Being aware of the bondage is enough to free you from its clutches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/being-aware-of-the-bondage-is-enough-to-free-you-from-its-clutches/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [You see, money to you means freedom; to me it means bondage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-see-money-to-you-means-freedom-to-me-it-means-bondage/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 550 Bondage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bondage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am against conversion (to Buddhism). 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