thoughts

The Buddhist world movement is not accurately thought of simply as a "world religion," understood as a set system of beliefs and institutions that parallel those of religions. It can be viewed in that way with some validity-indeed both proponents and opponents do so-but it is only one third a religion at most. It is more fundamentally a way of living and a pattern of ethics, a basis for numerous civilizations that emphasize individualism, wisdom, gentleness, altruism, and universal equality. And it is a way of understanding the world, a tradition of sciences based on the possibility of human beings developing a complete and accurate understanding of the realities of life and death.
-Robert Thurman