I'm fortunate to be part of a very tight-knit cycling community. Once a month, we do something called a critical mass ride in which several hundred cyclists get to together and "take over" the streets.
It started off as a protest in the early 90's as a way to bring attention to the cyclists that were being killed by hit and run drivers, and advocate for more bike lanes and trails within city limits.
However, it's become mainstream in recent years, and the droves of hippies and punks cruising down the street on upcycled bikes have some surprising company riding with them. There are grandmas that participate every month, and soccer mom's that carry a toddler on their bike racks. There are "tall boy" riders who have custom-made bikes that stand 10 feet tall. And there are spandex-wearing account executives who only break out their bikes on the weekends; if it's not raining.
That being said, as different as all of these riders are, it can't be argued that any of them aren't cyclists. Their rides all have two wheels, pedals, and handle bars. And they all move forward via leg-power. Culture, history, and personal preference cause every rider in a critical mass to manifest cycling in a different way, but the fact that they're all riding bikes means that every single one of them is a cyclist. The same line of thinking applies when we talk about authentic Buddhism.
Instead of a bike, of course, we start with the four noble truths, and the eight-fold path. That is the core of Buddha's teachings as they were given to the early monastics in Deer Park. These lessons are the bicycle in the "critical mass" which is the last 2,600 years of Buddhist literature. Anyone who has these 12 items at the core of their sect is practicing authentic Buddhism in the same way that anyone who rides a bike is a cyclist.
Of course, this doesn't mean that all schools are created equal. Just like there are certain rider/ bike combinations that work better for speed or personal comfort, there are different ways to manifest the dharma that will be more effective based on an individuals personality or country of origin. When viewed from this perspective, it seems silly to think that there should be one Buddhism to rule them all. Just as it's silly to think that that there is only one way to ride and operate a bicycle.
In this way, having many schools of Buddhism isn't a bad thing. In fact, it's a natural occurrence of the teachings spreading throughout the world, and being touched by millions of people. This is why I enjoy the Bright Dawn method which encourages us to approach these many manifestations of the Dharma from a nonsectarian viewpoint. This allows the practitioner to learn from everyone they meet, and manifest their Buddha-Nature in a way that's appropriate to the moment.
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Upcoming Events:
I'll be giving a talk for the Cleveland Animal Rights Alliance (C.A.R.A) on Monday, Oct. 23rd at 6:30pm. My talk will be entitled, "How Organic Farming Led Me to Being Vegan". I'll be discussing my experiences living and working on organic farms for 8 months, my Buddhist practice, and how the two led me to become vegan. The event will take place at the Cleveland Heights Public Library, 2345 Lee Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118.
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