Fake Buddha Quotes Are Compiled Here For Your Viewing Pleasure

“I Can’t Believe It’s Not Buddha” is a hilarious site that collects the plethora of quotes that people attribute to the Buddha that are total lies. It’s amazing how many commonly used quotes we associate with the Buddha that are complete hogwash. The website highlights the quotes and then explains in good detail why the quotes are wrong. The site is updated by the talented Bodhipaksa, a well-versed Buddhist author, and a member of the Triratna Buddhist Order.

 

They’re everywhere you look: Twitter, Facebook, blogs, quotes sites — even in books by well-known Buddhists. Fake Buddha Quotes abound.

To those who are familiar with the Buddhist scriptures, these Hallmark-style quotes attributed to the Buddha ring false, but it seems many people are preferentially attracted to the fake variety.

It’s hard sometimes to pinpoint why they sound fake. Usually it’s the language, which may be too flowery and poetic. Sometimes it’s the subject matter, which sounds too contemporary. The thing is, that although the Buddhist scriptures are vast (way larger than the Bible) they’re often not very quotable, or at least they tend not to have the immediate appeal that some of the fake variety has.

Big Ups to Rob @BoingBoing for covering this one!