Once again, we are reminded that awakening, or enlightenment is not the property of Buddhism, any more than Truth is the property of Christianity. Neither the Buddha nor the Christ belongs exclusively to the communities that were founded in their names. They belong to all people of goodwill, all who are attentive to the secret which lives in the depths of their breath and their consciousness. (14). JeanYves Leloup
About This Quote

“The Buddha is not a property of Buddhism” is a statement that a lot of people make. Buddha is a common term used to refer to Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. However, many people take it as a reference to the religion itself. This statement makes it seem as though Buddhists do not follow the teachings of Buddhism as closely as followers of other religions.

However, this is not true at all. Followers of Buddhist practices are just as devoted to the teachings as those who practice other religions. The Buddha's teachings serve as a guide to all those who wish to gain enlightenment and escape the cycle of rebirth and karma.

Source: Compassion And Meditation: The Spiritual Dynamic Between Buddhism And Christianity

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More Quotes By JeanYves Leloup
  1. Once again, we are reminded that awakening, or enlightenment is not the property of Buddhism, any more than Truth is the property of Christianity. Neither the Buddha nor the Christ belongs exclusively to the communities that were founded in their names. They belong to all...
  2. Lead us toward a speech, which is as beautiful as silence, and toward a silence, which is as beautiful as the sweetest and truest of words. (119)
  3. Much blood has been spilled over words, and a great deal of it over the word ‘God.’ (125)
  4. The compassionate person does not require other people to be stupid, in order to be intelligent. Their intelligence is for everyone, so as to have a world in which there is less ignorance. (118)
  5. It is important never to separate love and knowledge, compassion and wisdom. A wisdom without compassion is closed upon itself and does not bear fruit. A compassion without wisdom is a madness and a cause of suffering.
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