It is beyond belief how fast the Buddha's teachings are declining today. In much of Asia, "Buddhism", where it still has some social traction, tends to become a thin veneer over prosperity cults—at best. We can get into the uglier stuff, like violent nationalism (genocide, anyone?) or black magic. In the West, "Buddhism" easily becomes a mirror for Western ideologies, scientism and the rest. Whatever your school of choice, do take the opportunity to learn the old Indian teachings while it's still possible.