--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not a Buddhist approach to say that…" description: "\"It is not a Buddhist approach to say that if everyone practiced Buddhism, the world would be a better place. Wars and oppression begin from this kind o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/sulak-sivaraksa-43687_approach_it-is-not-a-buddhist-approach-to-say-tha_410936.png" --- # It is not a Buddhist approach to say that if everyone… ![“It is not a Buddhist approach to say that if everyone practiced Buddhism, the world would be a better place. Wars and oppression begin from this kind of thinking.” quote by Sulak Sivaraksa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/sulak-sivaraksa-43687_approach_it-is-not-a-buddhist-approach-to-say-tha_410936.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/sulak-sivaraksa-43687_approach_it-is-not-a-buddhist-approach-to-say-tha_410936.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/sulak-sivaraksa-43687_approach_it-is-not-a-buddhist-approach-to-say-tha_410936.png) > “It is not a Buddhist approach to say that if everyone practiced Buddhism, the world would be a better place. Wars and oppression begin from this kind of thinking.” [Sulak Sivaraksa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sulak-sivaraksa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Assuming universal Buddhism would end conflict ignores human complexity and power dynamics. **In simple terms:** Buddhism alone can't solve all problems. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of idealism. Themes politics religion conflict Mood thought‑provoking critical Type philosophical social commentary When to use this quote - policy making - interfaith dialogue - social activism Key Concepts idealism power structures Questions to Reflect On - Can spiritual practice coexist with political activism? - What other factors drive war? A Different Perspective Overly simplistic solutions can backfire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Better place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-place/) [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I feel a lot more secure about the directions I take, than I might have, had I not practiced Buddhism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/i-feel-a-lot-more-secure-about-the-directions-i-take-than-i-might/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [I think a lot of people trying to follow Buddhism these days are getting confused about sex and they don't understand what's going on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/i-think-a-lot-of-people-trying-to-follow-buddhism-these-days-are/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [Well, I don't know about my mum; I think she is almost Buddhist in her approach to life in that she's not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-wallace/well-i-don-t-know-about-my-mum-i-think-she-is-almost-buddhist-in-her/) [Gregg Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-wallace/) > [In the Buddhist approach, life and death are seen as one whole, where death is the beginning of another chapter of life. 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Sri Lanka has the former, in which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sulak-sivaraksa/i-make-a-distinction-between-buddhism-with-a-capital-b-and-buddhism/) [Sulak Sivaraksa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sulak-sivaraksa/) > [Buddhism is not concerned just with private destiny, but with the lives and consciousness of all beingsAny attempt to understand Buddhism apart from its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sulak-sivaraksa/buddhism-is-not-concerned-just-with-private-destiny-but-with-the/) [Sulak Sivaraksa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sulak-sivaraksa/) > [We have more than enough programs, organisations, parties, and strategies in the world for the alleviation of suffering and injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sulak-sivaraksa/we-have-more-than-enough-programs-organisations-parties-and/) [Sulak Sivaraksa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sulak-sivaraksa/) > [The use of market values and technology as a social barometer has devalued the worth of individuals, rendered irrelevant the quality of their lives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sulak-sivaraksa/the-use-of-market-values-and-technology-as-a-social-barometer-has/) [Sulak Sivaraksa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sulak-sivaraksa/) > [People seeking to live spiritually must be concerned with their social and physical environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sulak-sivaraksa/people-seeking-to-live-spiritually-must-be-concerned-with-their/) [Sulak Sivaraksa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sulak-sivaraksa/) > [True development must be in harmony with the needs of people and the rhythms of the natural world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sulak-sivaraksa/true-development-must-be-in-harmony-with-the-needs-of-people-and-the/) [Sulak Sivaraksa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sulak-sivaraksa/) > [Capitalism brainwashes us through advertising and the skewing of priorities … We need economies that promote human values, seek to limit suffering, and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sulak-sivaraksa/capitalism-brainwashes-us-through-advertising-and-the-skewing-of/) [Sulak Sivaraksa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sulak-sivaraksa/) > [Radical transformation of society requires personal and spiritual change first or at least simultaneously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sulak-sivaraksa/radical-transformation-of-society-requires-personal-and-spiritual/) [Sulak Sivaraksa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sulak-sivaraksa/) [Explore all 9 Sulak Sivaraksa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sulak-sivaraksa/) ## More Approach quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. 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