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Originally Posted by Altair
That is also difficult to really know, isn't it? It would require me to believe that Buddha's followers and the followers of said followers do indeed follow very strict standards and kept to the 'original' texts (written down by followers, right?). And there are many different Buddhist sects, do they all use the exact same texts?
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Well, not even trying to find out isn't a very good look.
Imagine a group of people being separated and having to recount the Buddhas teachings word for word and then having it compared to other peoples recitation of the teaching and it having to be correct word for word for it to be accepted. That was the standard. I would consider that a high standard.
The different sects. Do you understand why there are different sects?
To put things very simply..
You have the Theravada tradition. The first group to publish their teachings. This tradition does not believe one can be a Buddha in this lifetime. Think of this group as the meditation is more of a science with regards to meditation. They do not believe in tantra.
Next you have the Mahayana and we can include Dzogchen, etc. in this group. They accept all the teachings of Theravada but they believe that one can become a Buddha or realize Buddhahood in this lifetime. Teaching of these traditions include various Buddhas and realized Masters. It is considered a much more powerful path and is the most popular version of Buddhism in the world.
All Mahayana traditions accept Theravada teachings. They just add to it with tantra teachings. While Theravada is more like... no thank you. With that being said. There are some differences in the meaning of what an Arhat is but not on the core beliefs of the Buddha's teachings.
The Mahayana tradition accepts the validity of all the Theravada teachings such as the Eightfold Noble Path but considers that those teachings were taught to a certain group of disciples in a certain place and time. At other times, the Buddha taught the Mahayana path with its own particular aspects and emphasis which are the ones which they take as being of primary importance.