For the record it wasn't a study it was research. I am privy of what he said that his teachings would become adulterated however this exchange at the bottom of this message seems to be correct of pure mind and heart. Knowing that the Buddha didn't record his teachings and they were kept from mouth to ear, anything on his life is in the dark. I do have copy's of The Gospel of Buddha by Paul Carus, The Gnostic Buddha and THE GREAT KAGYU MASTERS The Golden Lineage Treasury
We know that Master Samael quotes Buddha to almost the level of Master Aberamentho. Which tradition should we have confidence in?
This is what I do know as facts:
There are 3 main traditions in Buddhism and all other traditions spring off these 3 main traditions.
Two are Mahayana traditions: Zen Buddhism and Vajrayana. Both of these traditions have the tradition of Bodhisattvas and use the Bodhisatta Vow.
The third major tradition - and the oldest - is the Theravadan tradition (which is the only tradition that does NOT require working in-person with a qualified teaching monk to guide you).
As for sects, there are endless sects. I am only familiar with the 4 “schools” of Tibetan Buddhism: Sakya, Nyingma, Kagyu, and Gelupa/Gelug. The Dalai Lama, btw, is the figurehead for just the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism (not the leader of that school .. just the figurehead).
Ananda: If its necessary to converse with women, how should a Bhikkhu practise?
Budddha: In that case a Bhikku should have well-controlled mindfulness and sense restraint. He should have orderly speech. And guard his mind from falling prey to lust and infatuation... The beautiful things of this world themselves are not "sense-desire. But the lust that arises in ones mind due to unwholesome intention that is a person's sense-desire. Once one has abandoned pleasure in unwholesome states, the beautiful objects of this world still exist. But there's no way one can be harmed by them.