[unishisse]

Each has its merits. Unfortunately, over the past couple of years, I have observed more inter-vehicle rivalry than I could have imagined from Buddhists. This came as an unwelcome surprise to me. The Buddha's teachings are non-sectarian, as embodied in the Atthakavagga of the Sutta Nipata, among the oldest threads of discourses by the historical Buddha. It has been of great help to me to use these teachings as guidelines for my own practice.

I come from a non-religious upbringing and I'm currently a student of cognitive science, so my perspective has, for the most part, been of a secular bent. I practice with a Zen group offline, but in my individual practice I gravitate toward the Pali Nikayas. Yet this is not to say I don't study the teachings of Linji or Nagarjuna, nor that I dismiss the Prajna Paramita Sutras or other later teachings. Where they are consistent with the historical Buddha's advice, I find much of value in them. Where they are not, I set them aside.

It might help to visit some sanghas in your area to better understand how they put the Buddha's teachings into practice. When I first started to learn about Buddhism, it was through Tibetan teachings. As I learned more about the practices of Tibetan Buddhism, I discovered it was not at all for me. Although I disagree with aspects of their practice, the Tibetans I know are sincere in their dedication to the bodhisattva ideal. Their means of getting there, however, are not well-suited to my disposition. Now, after three years with a Zen sangha, I feel at home with the simplicity of zazen practice. I would still like to visit some Theravada sanghas to get an idea if this could be a route even more conducive to my practice. Ultimately, it is helpful to keep in mind that Buddhism is not about winning converts. The choice is yours to make freely.