「Buddhism is essentially an ideology of 'lying flat' and passive escapism, teaching people to give up on life, avoid responsibility, and retreat from modern societal challenges into total inaction.」

It is completely understandable why this view arises. In a fast-paced world filled with burnout and overwhelming pressure, Buddhism's emphasis on 'letting go' and 'non-attachment' can easily sound like an invitation to step back and stop trying. However, this conflates emotional release with spiritual sloth. Buddhism does not advocate running away from life; rather, it addresses the internal root of suffering—delusion, greed, and aversion. Confusing non-attachment with passive indifference mistakes a symptom of exhaustion for genuine practice. In fact, passive apathy (sloth and heedlessness) is explicitly condemned in Buddhist doctrine as a major obstacle to liberation, while active, courageously directed effort is required.

In the scriptures, the Buddha explicitly identifies 'sloth' (懈怠) and 'heedlessness' (放逸) as fundamental obstacles that bind a practitioner to suffering and pull one far away from enlightenment 【Source 1】. Far from promoting passive avoidance, the texts praise 'blazing diligence without indolence' (熾然精進無懈怠) and illustrate the spiritual ideal through relentless, proactive compassion—such as rescuing others from danger, practicing boundless generosity, and enduring severe hardships for the welfare of all beings 【Source 1】. While Buddhism values inner stillness (śamatha) and freedom from worldly attachment, this peace serves as an unshakeable foundation to act wisely in the world, not as a pretext to abandon constructive action 【Source 2】.

I completely understand why Buddhism seems like 'lying flat' at first glance, especially when we are exhausted and just need a break from constant pressure. But in reality, Buddhist 'letting go' isn't about giving up on life or running away from responsibility. It's about letting go of the stress, fear, and ego that drain our energy, so we can face life's challenges with clarity and active compassion. It's not passive escape; it's learning how to act effectively without burning out.