Different types of Buddhism

catygtz

Hello
I recently learned that there are different types of buddhism, (tibetan, kadampa....)which one are you and why?

Mountains

I'm your basic garden variety Buddhist. All that other stuff is man made window dressing to me.

lamaramadingdong

Practicing, because it's the only kind.

Cloud

I'm with Mountains. For me the Four Noble Truths (and what elaborates upon them) are the teaching... the included Noble Eightfold Path is the practice. The ways that the traditions differ are rather superficial in comparison to the utmost gravity of the Four Noble Truths. Choose a tradition wisely, and then keep your eye on the prize; it's all about the cessation of craving. All of the various methods of practice are aimed at conditioning the mind to fully penetrate just these Four Noble Truths, at which point it drops craving like a hot potato and the burn of suffering ceases.

Tosh

I've read that the many different types of Buddhism may suit different personality types. For example Gelug Buddhism is very scholastic and will suit someone of a a scholarly nature, whereas Pureland Buddhism may suit someone with a devotional nature, and Zen will suit those who like meditating for hours, staring at walls, and getting hit with a big stick. (I'm joking, but you get the gist).

Hanzze

Actually there is no such thing like Buddhism (its a new word created by western) but for sure there are many ways to come to Buddha Dhamma and join the eightfold Path. :wave:

To the Ocean

The streams, lakes, and rivers that flow down to the ocean, when they reach the ocean, all have the same blue color, the same salty taste.

The same with human beings: It doesn't matter where they're from — when they reach the stream of the Dhamma, it's all the same Dhamma.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/chah/insimpleterms.html

Its just important that we don't jump into a lake. Even its refreshing, with times the water gets rotten or very salty if there is no stream out.
:wave:

caz

Im a Kadampa Buddhist because I was raised with it and its a sound path of training the mind.

Ada_B

FWIW Kadampa Buddhism is a branch of Tibetan Buddhism.