Here are a few quotes from the Dalai Lama’s recent book, The Many Ways to Nirvana :

“So we must make clear what the Tibetan Buddhist tradition actually is. It is the pure tradition of Nalanda [the ancient Buddhist university in India] … Unfortunately, Tibetan Buddhism is sometimes presented in its superficial aspects, with masks and countless rituals. In this, I think, there is real danger of misunderstanding Buddha Dharma.”

Q : Westerners don’t progess as quickly on the Vajrayana path [The Diamond Way, based on the Tantra] as the Tibetans do. Would you agree?

“In the Tibetan society as well, even though there are many who practise Tantra, there are very few who have the realization as explained in the Tantric texts.”

Q : How important is the method?

“That is extremely important. Because if you are able to follow a method and select a path which is relevant and suitable to your mental disposition, it will be much more effective.

“So, you see, the Buddhist way of practice begins with study. Study by hearing, by reading, just by absorbing information! Once you gather that information, you have to analyse it yourself. Don’t just rely on Buddha’s quotations. Rely instead on your investigations and experiments.”

It’s clear just from these few extracts, and indeed from the whole book, that the Dalai Lama stands firmly in the tradition of Gautama Buddha. If that sounds an obvious thing to say, it isn’t.

The Buddha believed in free inquiry (The Kalama Sutra). He challenged his hearers to find the truth for themselves, not to take his words as gospel. He discouraged a “cult of personality” forming around him. I’m not a god, was his constant message to those with ears to hear. Empiricism and scepticism, coupled with direct experience, made up his creed. How many of today’s Buddhists are “hearers” of the Buddha’s words?

Judging by the Dalai Lama’s book, he at least can make that claim.

My own book, The Nirvaneans — The Natural History of Nirvana will be published by Humdrumming on June 21 next year.