Concerning the traditional Buddhism of Kathmandu Valley, many scholars both local and foreign have expressed their views on it . A group of modern scholars has this to say: "The traditional Vajrayana Buddhism and Hinduism are different in name only". This statement was made by Prof. D.L. Snellgrove. This view has been shared by most Theravada believers and modern Shakyas and Bajracharyas.
Also in 1973 A.D. Mr. Michael Allen wrote his paper on traditional Buddhism of Nepal as "Buddhism without monks".
In traditional Buddhism of Kathmandu Valley, only Shakya and Bajracharya with few exceptions, can become Buddhist monks whereas other tribes and castes were or are forbidden to become monks. This view seems too conservative and acquired characteristics totally incompatible with Buddhism in any conventional sense and has parallel only in Hinduism. But if we think over the matter deeply, people seemed to have misunderstood the nature of Buddhism followed by Newar Buddhists. In fact, the form of Buddhism Newar people profess is Vajrayana Buddhism, not Theravada or Hinayana tradition. The Vajrayana Buddhism is the path of skilful means and wisdom. The use of Mantras, Sadhanas, Yogas and various disciplines which are used in Hindu Tantric methods are though apparently similar to Buddhism, yet they are dissimilar in nature in terms of their basic paradigms.
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