---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Each time the dharma moved into a…"
description: "\"Each time the dharma moved into a different civilization or historical period, it faced a twofold challenge: to maintain its integrity as an internally..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/stephen-batchelor-5328_buddhism_each-time-the-dharma-moved-into-a-differ_2198372.jpg"
---

#  Each time the dharma moved into a different civilization…

![“Each time the dharma moved into a different civilization or historical period, it faced a twofold challenge: to maintain its integrity as an internally coherent tradition, and to express its vision in a way that responded to the needs of the new situation.” quote by Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/stephen-batchelor-5328_buddhism_each-time-the-dharma-moved-into-a-differ_2198372.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/stephen-batchelor-5328_buddhism_each-time-the-dharma-moved-into-a-differ_2198372.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/stephen-batchelor-5328_buddhism_each-time-the-dharma-moved-into-a-differ_2198372.jpg)

> “Each time the dharma moved into a different civilization or historical period, it faced a twofold challenge: to maintain its integrity as an internally coherent tradition, and to express its vision in a way that responded to the needs of the new situation.”

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Dharma must stay true to its core while adapting to new cultures and eras.

**In simple terms:** Tradition balances consistency with change.

Key Takeaway

Preserve core values while adapting.

Themes

tradition adaptation culture integrity

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

analytical educational

When to use this quote

- teaching Dharma
- interfaith dialogue
- cultural integration
- policy making

Key Concepts

philosophy religious studies historical change

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we keep essential teachings intact while embracing new contexts?
- What risks arise when tradition changes too quickly?

A Different Perspective

Adaptation may dilute original meaning if not careful.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Dharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dharma/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [New situations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-situations/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/)

## Related quotes

> [“We are participatory beings who inhabit a participatory reality, seeking relationships that enhance our sense of what it means to be alive. In terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/we-are-participatory-beings-who-inhabit-a-participatory-reality/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [To preserve the integrity of the tradition, we have to distinguish between what is central to that integrity and what is peripheral. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/to-preserve-the-integrity-of-the-tradition-we-have-to-distinguish/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [The individuation of dharma practice occurs whenever priority is given to the resolution of a personal existential dilemma over the need to conform to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/the-individuation-of-dharma-practice-occurs-whenever-priority-is/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [The art of dharma practice requires commitment, technical accomplishment, and imagination. As with all arts, we will fail to realize its full potential if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/the-art-of-dharma-practice-requires-commitment-technical/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [While 'Buddhism' suggests another belief system, 'dharma practice' suggests a course of action. The four ennobling truths are not propositions to believe; they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/while-buddhism-suggests-another-belief-system-dharma-practice/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [In varying degrees, the authority of the dharma was replaced by the authority of the guru, who came, in some traditions, to assume the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/in-varying-degrees-the-authority-of-the-dharma-was-replaced-by-the/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [Confounding people's expectations was a way to maintain integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/confounding-people-s-expectations-was-a-way-to-maintain-integrity/)

[Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/)

> [You have to maintain integrity at all times during your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hanburger/you-have-to-maintain-integrity-at-all-times-during-your-life/)

Chris Hanburger

> [“Maintain your integrity! Live life in such a way that when another person tells his or her truth, you'll not be committed for blame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/maintain-your-integrity-live-life-in-such-a-way-that-when-another/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [We tried to get together multiple times to make an album, but there were certain rules set in place that made it difficult to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/we-tried-to-get-together-multiple-times-to-make-an-album-but-there/)

[John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

> [We must maintain the integrity of the White House, and that integrity must be real, not transparent. There can be no whitewash at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/we-must-maintain-the-integrity-of-the-white-house-and-that-integrity/)

[Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/)

> [Dont let hate or displeasure of other robs you of your peace.If people disrespect you or treat you bad keep yourself cool &amp; maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/dont-let-hate-or-displeasure-of-other-robs-you-of-your-peace-if/)

[DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/)

> [If you can maintain that integrity in whatever you do, you can't go wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/if-you-can-maintain-that-integrity-in-whatever-you-do-you-can-t-go/)

[George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/)

> [The battle of being mortal is the battle to maintain the integrity of one’s life,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/the-battle-of-being-mortal-is-the-battle-to-maintain-the-integrity-of/)

[Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/)

> [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/)

[Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/)

## More by Stephen Batchelor

> [“Gotama did for the self what Copernicus did for the earth: he put it in its rightful place, despite its continuing to appear just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/gotama-did-for-the-self-what-copernicus-did-for-the-earth-he-put-it/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [“We perceive the world in a particular way and confidently expect it to conform to its appearance. But we fail to recognize that certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/we-perceive-the-world-in-a-particular-way-and-confidently-expect-it/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [“Anxiety, alienation, loneliness, emptiness, and meaninglessness are the fruits of living as an isolated subject admist a multitude of lifeless objects. Although our scope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/anxiety-alienation-loneliness-emptiness-and-meaninglessness-are-the/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [“... We have to constantly confront our deepest anxieties, our emptiness, our despair, our doubts; and there is nowhere for us to escape and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/we-have-to-constantly-confront-our-deepest-anxieties-our-emptiness/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [“There is nothing one can have that one cannot fear to lose. Instead of living life in order to have more abundantly, live life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/there-is-nothing-one-can-have-that-one-cannot-fear-to-lose-instead-of/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [Buddhism, I think, is probably facing the single most difficult transition from one historical epoch to another, which is really the transition to modernity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/buddhism-i-think-is-probably-facing-the-single-most-difficult/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [ \[Mindfulness\] is not concerned with anything transcendent or divine. It serves as an antidote to theism, a cure for sentimental piety, a scalpel for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/mindfulness-is-not-concerned-with-anything-transcendent-or-divine-it/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [The art of dharma practice requires commitment, technical accomplishment, and imagination. As with all arts, we will fail to realize its full potential if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/the-art-of-dharma-practice-requires-commitment-technical/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [The denial of "self" challenges only the notion of a static self independent of body and mind-not the ordinary sense of ourself as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/the-denial-of-self-challenges-only-the-notion-of-a-static-self/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [While 'Buddhism' suggests another belief system, 'dharma practice' suggests a course of action. The four ennobling truths are not propositions to believe; they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/while-buddhism-suggests-another-belief-system-dharma-practice/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [“The inner aim of thought is never fully realized until it ripens into vocal utterances through which others can have access- albeit indirect- to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/the-inner-aim-of-thought-is-never-fully-realized-until-it-ripens-into/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [“Our religion, with its beliefs, rituals, and dogmas becomes another segment among all the other segments that constitute our linear and fragmented existence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/our-religion-with-its-beliefs-rituals-and-dogmas-becomes-another/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [“For others, however, the significance of anxiety in disclosing a fundamental insight into human existence is grasped. At this point their consciences will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/for-others-however-the-significance-of-anxiety-in-disclosing-a/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [“Wisdom that neglects method leads to excessive introversion and an inability to effectively communicate with others. Method without wisdom can produce well-intentioned but naive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/wisdom-that-neglects-method-leads-to-excessive-introversion-and-an/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [So the Buddha is presenting awakening not as a single mystical experience that may come upon us at some meditation, some private moment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/so-the-buddha-is-presenting-awakening-not-as-a-single-mystical/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

[Explore all 101 Stephen Batchelor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

## 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": "Each time the dharma moved into a different civilization or historical period, it faced a twofold challenge: to maintain its integrity as an internally coherent tradition, and to express its vision in a way that responded to the needs of the new situation.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Stephen Batchelor"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/each-time-the-dharma-moved-into-a-different-civilization-or/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Buddhism"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/each-time-the-dharma-moved-into-a-different-civilization-or/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/stephen-batchelor-5328_buddhism_each-time-the-dharma-moved-into-a-differ_2198372.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/stephen-batchelor-5328_buddhism_each-time-the-dharma-moved-into-a-differ_2198372.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/stephen-batchelor-5328_buddhism_each-time-the-dharma-moved-into-a-differ_2198372.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Each time the dharma moved into a different civilization or historical period, it faced a twofold challenge…” — Stephen Batchelor",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Stephen Batchelor",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Each time the dharma moved into...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/each-time-the-dharma-moved-into-a-different-civilization-or/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/each-time-the-dharma-moved-into-a-different-civilization-or/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
