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We can easily see the parallel in our own times where there is often
misunderstanding, and a lack communication between different Buddhist
lineages, but also the great potential for a person to learn from more than one
Tradition . We should take what has practical value for our lives and leave
the rest.
One more note on an American Rim for our times: whereas the Rim in
Tibet was generally addressing the four or five Schools, in the West in the
21st century, there are many more teachings. We have the Zen, Theravada
and Tibetan Buddhist Traditions with all their many subdivisions that we can
learn and profit from. In addition, we have our own Western Spiritual
Heritage, as well as the insights from science and psychology to draw from.
Whether we refer to what we are doing as non-sectarian, or pan-sectarian, or
simply Buddhist, we have many more perspectives to accommodate, and
potentially at least, to help us. Its up to us to assess what works for us.
It helps to remember that, for the most part, this coming together of different
traditions has never really happened before, at least not to the extent that its
happening now. If were sincere in our practice, and open-minded (which I
know Americans in general are) then I have no doubt that well find more
and more effective ways to go deeper in our practice.
One teacher who has done more than anyone else in modern times to bridge
the different schools is Thich Nhat Hanh. I was surprised and delighted to
read his biography of Tang Hoi, and to learn how, from its inception, his
Tradition of Vietnamese Buddhism it has practiced the different teachings as
unified whole.
Three of Thich Nhat Hanhs verses on meditation say,
The essential sutras, such as
the Discourses on the Full Awareness of Breathing,
and the Four Establishments of Mindfulness,
show me the path to transform body and mind,
step by step.
The Mahayana sutras and teachings
open many fresh, wide gateways
allowing me to enter the depths