The Dalai Lama on Religion vs. Spirituality

About once a week, I am confronted in some form or another by the question of whether Buddhism is a religion or not. Lots of people who, I think, assume that it is, and so get nervous and stay away from it and anyone who seems to practice it. My feeling is that Buddhism isn't a religion really, but a spiritual practice of some sort. I should have known that the Dalai Lama would be much more articulate about this than some dude from the Outaouais.

I believe there is an important distinction to be made between religion and spirituality. Religion I take to be concerned with belief in the claims to salvation of one faith tradition or another--an aspect of which is acceptance of some form of meta-physical or philosophical reality, including perhaps an idea of heaven or hell. Connected with this are religious teachings or dogma, ritual, prayers and so on. Spirituality I take to be concerned with those qualities of the human spirit--such as love and compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, contentment, a sense of responsibility, a sense of harmony, which bring happiness to both self and others.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

From "The Pocket Dalai Lama," edited by Mary Craig, 2002.