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I am not a Buddhist is a 2012 book by British author Charity Seraphina Fields arguing that Buddhism is better suited as a religion for wealthy westerners than those in developing countries.

Thesis
Fields’ position is that Buddhism is not the answer to the question “Why am I suffering without all the things I want?”, but rather the question “Why am I still suffering even though I have everything I want?”. To justify her claim, she draws a distinction between two kinds of suffering, which she calls “crass” and “profound”. Crass suffering is everyday suffering caused by mundane issues - not being able to feed oneself or one’s family, for instance. But profound suffering is the feeling of emptiness amongst those who “have it all”. According to her, people misinterpret the Buddha’s dictum that life is suffering to apply to the crass kind, when it was meant to apply to the latter. Therefore, she claims, the Buddha’s teachings would only ever make complete sense to “wealthy intellectuals” as a response to the existential angst felt by those who have their fundamental needs satisfied.

Despite this ambitious proposal, much of the book is spent in exploring the motivations behind the origins of the Buddha’s teachings and not in defending her hypothesis, which she takes for granted. Many pages are devoted to parallels and analogies, often restating the same points in different ways. Comparisons to contemporary and ancient Hinduism and Christianity are offered alongside discussions of how each religion chooses to deal with the two kinds of suffering.

Reception
The book received mixed reviews. The British book review site, Bookbag, rated the book a “buy” at 3.5 stars stating that it is “an interesting journey through Buddhism and its principles seen from the point of view of one on the path. There's a lot to engage with here and the book will stimulate all its readers, not just those wanting to know more about this philosophy. A tendency to wordiness requires a little patience.”

The Midwest Book Review was also positive, stating: “Buddhism attracts many with its philosophy, but not everyone can embrace it to its fullest. "I Am Not A Buddhist" is a spiritual musing from Charity Seraphina Fields who explores the faith and how despite her attempts to fully embrace it, could not, but how she still appreciates the aspects of the faith and what she had learned in the process. "I Am Not A Buddhist" is a strong addition to spirituality and Buddhist studies collections, much recommended.”

Kirkus, however, was less flattering, with: “An often charming glance at Buddhism that unfortunately gets lost in its details”