The Buddha and His Dhamma Book on Buddha's Life And Philosophy

by B.R. Ambedkar

"The Buddha and His Dhamma Book on Buddha's Life And Philosophy" is a profound and authoritative exposition on the life, teachings, and philosophical vision of Gautama Buddha, authored by the great social reformer Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. This seminal work stands as a unique blend of biography and doctrine, offering readers a deeply human portrayal of the Buddha while systematically presenting the moral and social implications of his Dhamma.

 Far from a mere spiritual biography, "The Buddha and His Dhamma Book on Buddha's Life And Philosophy" traces the journey of Siddhartha from prince to enlightened teacher, emphasizing his revolt against social injustice, ritualism, and blind faith. Ambedkar reinterprets the Buddha’s message as a radical ethical system rooted in compassion, rationality, and equality—making the book not only a guide to inner liberation but also a call to social transformation.

 This text serves both as a scholarly resource and an inspirational manual for those seeking to understand Buddhism not just as a religion, but as a way of life and a tool for societal reform. Ambedkar’s voice brings urgency and clarity, grounding the Buddha’s ancient wisdom in the modern context of human dignity, justice, and liberation. For seekers, scholars, and activists alike, this book remains a timeless beacon of reason and morality.

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A masterful and soul-stirring account that presents Buddha as a reformer and teacher of compassion and justice. Ambedkar’s writing transforms the Buddha’s story into a living philosophy that touches both heart and intellect.”

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This book is both enlightening and empowering. It’s not just about Buddhism—it’s about the struggle for human dignity. Some sections are dense, but the depth of insight is worth the effort.”

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Ambedkar’s perspective offers a refreshing reinterpretation of Buddha’s teachings. It’s a valuable resource for anyone interested in Buddhist philosophy with a strong moral and social framework. A bit academic in tone, but powerful nonetheless.”

 ⭐⭐⭐ “An important read with rich philosophical ideas, but the structure and narrative style may feel challenging for casual readers. Still, it offers a unique and necessary view of the Buddha’s mission.”

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Truly a revolutionary book. Ambedkar brings Buddha’s life and Dhamma into focus with clarity, passion, and relevance. A must-read for anyone seeking truth, justice, and inner peace.”

Genres: Nonfiction

562 pages, Kindle Edition

About the author

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was born in 1891 into an “Untouchable” family of modest means. One of India’s most radical thinkers, he transformed the social and political landscape in the struggle against British colonialism. He was a prolific writer who oversaw the drafting of the Indian Constitution and served as India’s first Law Minister. In 1935, he publicly declared that though he was born a Hindu, he would not die as one. Ambedkar eventually embraced Buddhism, a few months before his death in 1956.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I picked this book up for a few reasons. First, I have been interested in Buddhism for a while and so went looking for a decent primer. Second, I was planning a trip to India and wanted to find something that overlapped with Indian Buddhism. I also had recently finished Journey to the West (Monkey King's adventure through parts of India to bring Buddhism back to China) and was curious how it all may intersect.

Discovering that Ambedekar was an Indian leader (he drafted the Indian constitution) and that he wrote this book in an effort to synthesize and correct historical accounts about the actual Buddha, this seemed like a good option.

I learned a lot (more below) and definitely feel like Ambedekar went to great lengths to ensure historical accuracy. My only complaint (and the drop from 5 to 4 stars) is due to the repetitive quality of the writing. It is always hard to tell if things are due to translation, and I read from a very cheap kindle version of the book (so some of the repetition may be due to typographical error), but I think at least part of it was also stylistic.


My big takeaway was that both CBT and Marxism are direct descendants of Buddha's teachings. It was definitely a worthwhile read. Ambedekar does his best to follow Buddha's whole life, explaining how he originally became a monk (as punishment for not agreeing with the majority in his community to wage war against a neighboring community), and why he had issues with Brahaminism and Jainism and therefore developed his own doctrine (Dhamma).

I will end with useful and interesting quotes:

"enmity does not disappear by enmity. It can only be conquered by love."

"the world shows kindness for the sake of hope; there is no such thing as unselfishness without a motive."

"pleasure belongs to the young man, wealth to the middle-age, and religion to the old."

"These transient pleasures,--the robbers of our happiness and our wealth, and which float empty and like illusions through the world,--infatuate man's minds even when they are only hoped for,--still more when they take up their abode in the soul."

"The conflict between nations is occasional. But the conflict between classes is constant and perpetual. It is this which is the root of all sorrow and suffering in the world."

The four stages are: reason and investigation; concentration; equanimity and mindfulness; purity.

there is "no logical or factual basis for the presumption that God exists or that he created the universe."

"Man is made up of certain elements of unhappiness in the world. The soul cannot escape it Whatever sorrow or unhappiness there was in the world the soul cannot escape."

"mind is the fount of all good and evil that arises within and befalls us from without."

"The cleaning of the mind is the essence of religion."

"Path of Purity the principles of life recognized by it are: Not to injure or kill: Not to steal or appropriate to oneself anything which belongs to another: Not to speak untruth: Not to indulge in lust: Not to indulge in intoxicating drinks."

" every action should be founded on respect for the feelings and rights of others."

"five hindrances are covetousness ill-will, sloth and torpor, doubt and indecision."

"unhappiness is the result of greed, and greed is the bane of life of those who have as well as those who have not."

"human being is always changing, always growing. He is not the same at two different moments of his life."

"the moral order rests on man and on nobody else."

"not only every event has a cause but the cause is the result of some human action or natural law."

"religion based on God is based on speculation. A religion based on God is, therefore, not worth having. It only ends in creating superstition."

"The kingdom of righteousness lies on Earth and is to be reached by man by righteous conduct."

"A good disposition is the only permanent foundation of and guarantee of permanent goodness."

"courage to stand by what is right even if one is alone."

"Loving kindness, which is the freedom of heart, absorbs them all; it glows, it shines it blazes forth."

morality "does not require the sanction of God. It is not to please God that man has to be moral. It is for his own good that man has to love man."

"The only way to put a stop to conflict is to have common rules or morality which are sacred to all "

"The fault of others is easily perceived, but that of oneself is difficult to perceive; a man winnows his neighbor's faults like chaff but his own faults he hides as a cheat hides the bad dice from the player."

"Oneself, they say is hard to control. If one shapes oneself according as one counsels others, this well controlled one will have control over others."

"It is good to take the mind, which is difficult to hold in and tightly, rushing. wherever it listeth; a tamed mind brings happiness "

"Hunger is the worst of diseases. Health is the greatest of gifts, contentedness the best of riches; trust is the best of relationships"

"Buddhism is the earliest ethical system where a man is called upon to have himself governed by himself."