I see two advantages to the non-uniform nature of Buddhism. First, it allows Buddhism – or any other religion – to mutate more readily when its environment changes. Second, in this information age, it allows people to pick the branch of Buddhism that suits them best. No longer are we fated to belong to the only religion we’ve ever heard of. Now we can “shop.” We can choose “statues and incense” Buddhism (to borrow a phrase from Sandy Boucher) or a simple meditation practice. And no one can say that one is more “Buddhist” than the other.
The Non-Uniform Nature of Buddhism
Posted on by Myodo
Author: Myodo
Ven. Dr. Myodo Jabo (Sandy Gougis) is a Zen Master and Priest in the Five Mountain Zen Order. She began studying Theravâdin Buddhism in 1998, adding Zen in 2003, and Vajrayana Buddhism in 2008. She currently practices in both the Zen and Tibetan traditions. Her Zen teacher is Most Ven. Wonji Dharma of the Five Mountain Zen Order, and her Tibetan guru is Lama Tsultrim Allione of Tara Mandala. In her free time, Myodo enjoys painting, jewelry making, and other creative endeavors. View All Posts
Living in the Dash 
thanks for posting this sandy
Thanks, Paul. To give credit where it’s due, though, this was from a writing prompt from my Buddhist Traditions professor. I hope to post here much of the writing I’m doing for the class.