Are there sectarian divisions in Buddhism?
Most definitely. Buddhism is divided into many, many schools and traditions. (Note that we tend not to use the term sect in relation to Buddhist schools.) However, unlike many other religions, the Buddhist world has a long-standing and deep commitment to tolerance and mutual respect. Rivalry between Buddhist schools is restricted generally to discussions about differences in doctrine or interpretation. Religious persecution within the Buddhist world is virtually unheard of in 2500 years of Buddhist history. Buddhism is a practice more than a doctrine or set of doctrines. The core practices of Buddhism are pretty much the same the world over, even though they may have different superficial appearances. Here in the West, the various schools are even more aware of each other and are actively working together to promote the emergence of a Western Buddhism which may have many sub-dialects but which is overall in keeping with the long Buddhist tradition of inclusion and ecumenical fellowship
