--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not even sure that Buddhism is a…" description: "\"“I'm not even sure that Buddhism is a religion really. It seems like more of just a spiritual practice, I'd compare it more to Taoism than religion.”\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/sienna-mcquillen-10333_buddhism_i-m-not-even-sure-that-buddhism-is-a-rel_2502440.jpg" --- # I'm not even sure that Buddhism is a religion really. It… ![“I'm not even sure that Buddhism is a religion really. It seems like more of just a spiritual practice, I'd compare it more to Taoism than religion.” quote by Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/sienna-mcquillen-10333_buddhism_i-m-not-even-sure-that-buddhism-is-a-rel_2502440.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/sienna-mcquillen-10333_buddhism_i-m-not-even-sure-that-buddhism-is-a-rel_2502440.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/sienna-mcquillen-10333_buddhism_i-m-not-even-sure-that-buddhism-is-a-rel_2502440.jpg) > ““I'm not even sure that Buddhism is a religion really. It seems like more of just a spiritual practice, I'd compare it more to Taoism than religion.”” [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A perspective that Buddhism aligns more with Taoist spiritual practice than organized religion. **In simple terms:** Buddhism seen as spiritual, not religious. Key Takeaway Explore Buddhism beyond doctrine. Themes spirituality religion comparative philosophy Mood contemplative open‑minded Type philosophical comparative When to use this quote - personal study - interfaith dialogue - mindfulness practice - academic research Key Concepts Buddhism Taoism faith practice Questions to Reflect On - How does this view affect your practice? - What similarities do you see? A Different Perspective May overlook doctrinal differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-practice/) ## Related quotes > [Taoism ... is the Religion of the Tao, a term meaning Path or Way, but denoting in this peculiar case the way, course or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-jakob-maria-de-groot/taoism-is-the-religion-of-the-tao-a-term-meaning-path-or-way-but/) Jan Jakob Maria de Groot > [Taoism is not a religion, although perhaps it has been made into one by some people. Lao Tsu's way of life occurs in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/taoism-is-not-a-religion-although-perhaps-it-has-been-made-into-one/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [All the other religions I had ever read about dealt with the idea of God, and your relationship with God. Buddhism is the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/all-the-other-religions-i-had-ever-read-about-dealt-with-the-idea-of/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Buddhism has always been a religion for people who've worked their way through a cycle of materialism and still feel discontented and want more,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-mishra/buddhism-has-always-been-a-religion-for-people-who-ve-worked-their/) [Pankaj Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-mishra/) > [Buddhism does not accept a theory of God, or a creator. According to Buddhism, one's own actions are the creator, ultimately. Some people say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/buddhism-does-not-accept-a-theory-of-god-or-a-creator-according-to/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Whether you call it Buddhism or another religion, self-discipline, that's important. Self-discipline with awareness of consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/whether-you-call-it-buddhism-or-another-religion-self-discipline-that/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“Buddhism is not a religion, but rather a way to finding happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/his-eminence-gyalwa-dokhampa/buddhism-is-not-a-religion-but-rather-a-way-to-finding-happiness/) His Eminence Gyalwa Dokhampa > [When people ask the Dalai Lama, "Is Buddhism a religion?" he answers, "Yes, it is." Then they ask, "What kind of religion is it?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/when-people-ask-the-dalai-lama-is-buddhism-a-religion-he-answers-yes/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [This sounds really hokey, but I think Buddhism is the only religion that is genuinely peaceful, so I'd try to promote it in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/this-sounds-really-hokey-but-i-think-buddhism-is-the-only-religion/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [Prajñāpāramitā Buddhism is not a religion suitable for the brainless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-conze/praj-p-ramit-buddhism-is-not-a-religion-suitable-for-the-brainless/) [Edward Conze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-conze/) > [As far as ignorance is concerned, not just Buddhism, every religion recognizes it as the source of suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/as-far-as-ignorance-is-concerned-not-just-buddhism-every-religion/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [If a person is dying and you need information about the religion, it's really embarassing that there are over humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/if-a-person-is-dying-and-you-need-information-about-the-religion-it-s/) Mak\_786 > [The secret of a person's nature lies in their religion and what they really believes about the world and their place in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anthony-froude/the-secret-of-a-person-s-nature-lies-in-their-religion-and-what-they/) [James Anthony Froude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anthony-froude/) > [I find that religion really does motivate people to do horrible things because they have this passionate faith in whatever their religion happens to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-find-that-religion-really-does-motivate-people-to-do-horrible/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Honestly, I'm not a big person in terms of religion, but I really believe in nature. I feel like anytime you see anything beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-rue/honestly-i-m-not-a-big-person-in-terms-of-religion-but-i-really/) [Sara Rue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-rue/) ## More by Sienna McQuillen > [“The Ego is a veil between man and God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/the-ego-is-a-veil-between-man-and-god/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [“Of course you're not egotistical. I checked, and you look very humble in all 900 of the selfies you posted on facebook.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/of-course-you-re-not-egotistical-i-checked-and-you-look-very-humble/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [“When I was a teenager, I used to go about barefoot with no hat and sunglasses, just open to the Sun. I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-used-to-go-about-barefoot-with-no-hat-and/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [“I'll steal your stuff. I'm a Siennarchist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/i-ll-steal-your-stuff-i-m-a-siennarchist/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [“The only thing I make up is my face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/the-only-thing-i-make-up-is-my-face/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [“I am Anarchy. I am Power. I am Love. I am Siennarchist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/i-am-anarchy-i-am-power-i-am-love-i-am-siennarchist/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [“One must be very careful with the little lip gloss hash container thingy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/one-must-be-very-careful-with-the-little-lip-gloss-hash-container/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [“I'm excited because Deanna and I are on our way toward our stated objective of becoming scholars of the early Pink Floyd. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/i-m-excited-because-deanna-and-i-are-on-our-way-toward-our-stated/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [“Some seem to think that Jesuits are behind everything, without any evidence whatsoever. That is not thinking, that is scapegoating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/some-seem-to-think-that-jesuits-are-behind-everything-without-any/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [“I love the sound of one hand clapping.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/i-love-the-sound-of-one-hand-clapping/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [“Sienna McQuillen 21 August . I think I'll have another child. And after I'm pregnant, I think I'll eat the father.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/sienna-mcquillen-21-august-i-think-i-ll-have-another-child-and-after/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [“When I saw the Pulse concert when I was 13 with the light show and all, I thought, "I don't know what lsd is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/when-i-saw-the-pulse-concert-when-i-was-13-with-the-light-show-and/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [“I will illuminate you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/i-will-illuminate-you/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [“Dont say anything. Just listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/dont-say-anything-just-listen/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [“I passed out during Echoes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/i-passed-out-during-echoes/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) [Explore all 65 Sienna McQuillen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) ## 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. If you are miserable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buddhism-advises-you-not-to-implant-feelings-that-you-don-t-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That's all there is, enlightenment on the end of a cock. It doesn't get any more Zen than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-wilkes/that-s-all-there-is-enlightenment-on-the-end-of-a-cock-it-doesn-t-get/) [Jaden Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-wilkes/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. 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": "“I'm not even sure that Buddhism is a religion really. 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