When You First Started Practicing Buddhism, What Sect Did You Practice?

I started from Chinese Pure Land Sect since I was a child of seven, no money was need, not a lot of learning required, and no teacher was needed (the only sect requires no teacher); then Ch’an/ Meditation, then Sutrayana learning then Vajrayana Buddhism.
We all have different intellectual capacity, physical abilities, mental concentration and imagination on the inside; and then on the outside, we have the constraints on income, money issues, availabilities of times, spaces and ability to travel to get to our teachers.
Then there is mental preparedness of your journey, and because Tibetan Buddhism practices are very high levels of views, you must understand and see through many seeming senseless exercises. Then as with the other very high level practice like Ch’an/ Zen you need an enlightened teacher, or at least one that is familiar with all the theories, enough practice experiences, and mental capacity to teach and lead you correctly onto the paths.
My recommendation is to go find a good teacher- who will then prepare you to meet your Guru of your life, one that will hand you the Enlightenment on your platter.
Most Western students attracted to Tibetan Buddhism due to its exotic flavors, neglected all Buddhism have their foundation in Hinayana, and then bases on the roots of Mahayana (Sutrayana teachings) before advance to Vajrayana Buddhism (Tibetan Buddhism). They often neglect the Hinayana teaching and Mahayana teachings, so they winding up with crazy wisdom (that is what they call they got- I don’t think they got it.)
Second biggest problem with Tibetan Buddhism is very time consuming, need good amount of money and the transportation getting around to different places to learn; and all the dharma items are quite expensive.
Most Tibetan teachers will not teach you anything until you have proven yourselves, and put in the hard core practices before they will disclose inside teachings to you, or else you will just be a follower and not a disciple- much less to talk about as heart sons. If we are accepted as inner students then all the hard works you put in, will worth every ounce of strength you put into the learning and practicing.
Nyingmapa and Kagyupa will give you something very substantial day one, but there are many details left out until they confirmed you serious before fully disclosed everything. But with practices there will be signs of accomplishment, and then they have no choice but to take you serious as well.
Shakyapa will expect you to work hard and only after they find that you are serious, before they will give you anything substantial.
Gelugpa concentrates too much on theory of Sutrayana and often way too politically oriented, it takes approximately 12 years for Gelugpa monks to go through Shadra (Buddhism High School leading to College degree), then some will be fortunate to be introduced to the Tantra part of Buddhism. So what will you learn from them?
Bon is not Buddhism, and Dai Lai Lama recognized them due to political consideration.
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P’ang is correct; you need a spiritual home before anything will come out of it.
bo K- a book Buddhist with a little knowledge and misinterpret the Buddha’s teachings and quotes.
He said, “Buddhism is to follow own’s findings.” I guess he thinks he will achieve Enlightenment on his own ability, but he still relied on the books he is reading, and the authors who wrote those books either have their own teachers or read out of the Sutra- then the risk is can this person interpret the Sutra correctly?
He said, “Buddha clearly said, ‘Be a lamp unto yourself’ ” without the correct understanding and background, how could he interprets the words of the Buddha- who lived two thousand five hundred years ago, and explained the Buddha Dharma to the listeners who lived twenty-five hundred years ago; where their concepts, customs, traditions and environment are totally different from us?
Without the historical background and reference points, can he properly interprets the wisdom, or realized the teachings from the Buddha was imply on a particular situation? Besides, all Sutras have their secret interpretations, and that only past down from Masters to students, I think these inner messages from the Sutras of which these book Buddhists will never get!!!.
Well, don’t pay him no mind, or else you will waste your precious human life.

I practice Nichiren Buddhism with the SGI(Soka Gakaii International). I have looked at all other types of Buddhism and other religions and continue to come back to this practice because it works. Chanting gives me strength and confidence. One thing I like about this religion is that there are no priests, and you don’t have to wear robes or separate yourself from the rest of society in any way.

My initial exposure was through Tibetan Buddhism. I went on several retreats with Tibetan Buddhist rinpoches but never really connected with either the teachings or the cultural trappings.
Shortly after I stopped Tibetan practices, I started Zen practice and have been at it for nearly 20 years. The Zen tradition, with its mix of simplicity and clarity, felt very right to me.
In the years since, I’ve also studied with Vipassana (Theravada) teachers and have also gone to events with the Dalai Lama. But the Zen tradition is my dharma home.
And it’s important to have a dharma home – a place where you can sink deep roots that will sustain you through the many windings and challenges of the Buddha Way. May you soon find such a home!

Falun Gong. I’d like to share some photos about young Buddhists: http://photo.minghui.org/images/group_pr…
In the section “Buddhist Qigong and Buddhism” of the Zhuan Falun Lecture on the web, you can find out a concise discussion about sects in Buddhism and its reform.
In the section “Different Levels Have Different Laws” of the Zhuan Falun Lecture on the web, you can find out a discussion about Zen Buddhism.
Both books and meditation demonstration video are free to download from the URL listed below. If you need any help, contact a local practitioner in your area for free instructions.
Falun Gong was found in 1992 by Master Li Hongzhi in China. About 100 million followers like the practice in over 80 countries worldwide. Falun Gong is an ancient practice for the body, mind, and spirit based upon the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. Falun Gong consists of five sets of powerful exercises.
Falun Gong, Tibetans, other Buddhists, and Daoists have been persecuted in China. The most offensive human right violation is the organ harvesting from the Falun Gong practitioners in China. Can you kindly sign a petition to stop persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, please ?http://cipfg.org/en/news/petition.html

Nothing that you mentioned.
Buddhism is to follow own’s findings.
Not to Zen,Tibetan or Theravada. etc.
You can have ideas by studying their concepts and practices, but it should be your own findings which needs to be followed.
Buddha clearly said,’ Be a lamp unto yourself’.

I’m Buddhist and practice non sectarian Rime. Its Tibetan Buddhism.

I am a christian.

I practiced Fizzbin, but only on Tuesdays.
( It’s a Star Trek joke!)