[acissombiapse]

Yeah, if we don't know what he taught, where are we? We have to find some tradition, learn it and practice, and hopefully awaken to some measure of the truth so that we know what it's really all about. Only then, IMHO, should we "mix and match" bits of this and that from different traditions. Maybe not even then. I guess it depends.

I personally think the Pali Canon is the best source, the closest to what the Buddha taught. Even then though, it's immersed in cultural trappings that you have to find your way through, and this can be difficult for a while. We have to remember that the Buddha was speaking to people in the way he felt best would get through to them, knowing their way of thinking (which would be different from ours today, especially in the west since people think differently in different parts of the world) and their beliefs.

In addition to all that (lol), since there's only one reality to be found in the end, different "masters" may express it differently and teach different methods of seeing it. If we attach to the Buddha's teachings as the "best" or only way, we limit ourselves. I think a lot of post-Buddha enlightening was going on and some of those guys came up with alternative ways. We should be open to these too! The only reason we wouldn't be is if we're clinging in some form.