How Dhamma Differs From Religion?

    1. What the Buddha calls Dhamma differs fundamentally from what is called Religion.
    2. What the Buddha calls Dhamma is analogous to what the European theologians call Religion.
    3. But there is no greater affinity between the two. On the other hand, the differences between the two are very great.
    4. On this account, some European theologians refuse to recognise the Buddha's Dhamma as Religion.
    5. There need be no regrets over this. The loss is theirs. It does no harm to the Buddha's Dhamma. Rather, it shows what is wanting in Religion.
    6. Instead of entering into this controversy, it is better to proceed to give an idea of Dhamma, and show how it differs from Religion.
    7. Religion, it is said, is personal, and one must keep it to oneself. One must not let it play its part in public life.
    8. Contrary to this, Dhamma is social. It is fundamentally and essentially so.
    9. Dhamma is righteousness, which means right relations between man and man in all spheres of life.
    10. From this it is evident that one man, if he is alone, does not need Dhamma.
    11. But when there are two men living in relation to each other, they must find a place for Dhamma whether they like it or not. Neither can escape it.
    12. In other words. Society cannot do without Dhamma.
    13. Society has to choose one of the three alternatives.
    14. Society may choose not to have any Dhamma as an instrument of Government.  For Dhamma is nothing if it is not an instrument of Government.
    15. This means Society chooses the road to anarchy.
    16. Secondly, Society may choose the police--i.e., dictatorship--as an instrument of Government.
    17. Thirdly, Society may choose Dhamma, plus the Magistrate wherever people fail to observe the Dhamma.
    18. In anarchy and dictatorship liberty is lost.
    19. Only in the third [case] liberty survives.
    20. Those who want liberty must therefore have Dhamma.
    21. Now what is Dhamma? and why is Dhamma necessary?  According to the Buddha, Dhamma consists of Prajna and Karuna.
    22. What is Prajna? And why Prajna? Prajna is understanding. The Buddha made Prajna one of the two corner-stones of His Dhamma because he did not wish to leave any room for superstition.
    23. What is Karuna? And why Karuna? Karuna is love. Because without it, Society can neither live nor grow; that is why the Buddha made it the second corner-stone of His Dhamma.
    24. Such is the definition of the Buddha's Dhamma.
    25. How different is this definition of Dhamma from that of Religion.
    26. So ancient, yet so modern, is the definition of Dhamma given by the Buddha.
    27. So aboriginal, yet so original.
    28. Not borrowed from anyone, yet so true.
    29. A unique amalgam of Pradnya and Karuna is the Dhamma of the Buddha.
    30. Such is the difference between Religion and Dhamma.

~ Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Buddha and his Dhamma