[VladFal]

As a novice and rebel, I find it difficult to grasp only one of the different schools of thought. I understand that Buddhism is based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha, Are the different traditions not unlike the variations of Christianity and adapted to the various cultures and environments in it's long history? From what I've observed so far, Buddhism does not seem to have been as obscured as Christianity (for example: Catholism vs.Lutheranism vs. Mormonism). Don't all the Buddhist traditions observe the same basic truths? I understand that Zen is a hybrid of Taoism and Buddhism. I have always felt that "Truth is One and Paths are Many". But, I don't want to miss out on anything, either.