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Where Philosophy Becomes a Way of Living
No Religion
No Religion
Bhikkhu Buddhadasa
Read online or download for free as PDF: https://www.suanmokkh.org/books/127
Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's "No Religion" offers a profound and often challenging perspective on the nature of spiritual liberation, arguing that at their very core, all authentic religions are fundamentally the same, united in their pursuit of the eradication of selfishness and suffering. The book, originally a talk from 1967, posits that the deepest understanding of "Dhamma," or universal truth, reveals that the conventional concept of separate "religions" - be it Buddhism, Christianity, or Islam - ultimately dissolves. These labels are viewed as human constructs that often lead to division, conflict, and attachment, with the true heart of spiritual practice revealing a shared, liberating purpose.
The central aim across all genuine spiritual paths, as Buddhadasa explains, is the conquest of selfishness and the abandonment of clinging to the notion of "I" and "mine." This deeply ingrained attachment to ego and possessions is identified as the ultimate source of all suffering, and true liberation is achieved through the understanding and practice of non-attachment. The work critically examines the adherence to external forms, rituals, traditions, and dogmas that frequently characterize conventional religious practice, instead emphasizing that genuine understanding arises from an internal, direct experience of the Dhamma, rather than merely following prescribed rites or accepting literal interpretations of scriptures.
Buddhadasa introduces the distinction between "people language" – the conventional, literal way we speak and understand – and "Dhamma language" – a deeper, symbolic, or metaphorical understanding of spiritual truths, suggesting that many misunderstandings stem from taking profound spiritual concepts too literally instead of discerning their true, liberating intent. While a Buddhist monk, Buddhadasa presents core Buddhist principles like "emptiness" (sunyata) and "not-self" (anatta) as universal truths applicable to all seekers.
He explains that the realization of impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and the lack of an inherent self leads to the selflessness necessary for true liberation, reinterpreting concepts like "rebirth" not as a literal transmigration of a soul, but as a continuous process of becoming fueled by attachment, which ceases when attachment is relinquished. Ultimately, "No Religion" serves as a powerful call for inter-religious understanding and collaboration, as Buddhadasa highlights the shared objective of conquering selfishness. He identifies materialism, in its various manifestations, as a common adversary that perpetuates selfishness and impedes both genuine spiritual progress and global peace.