/lit/ - Literature

Interested in Buddhism, looked at it off and on for years and potentially want to practice.

I originally was interested in Theravada, but I discovered it is clearly laid out that lay individuals have no opportunity to reach enlightenment, make significant progress or be even be a stream enterer in their current life. Also it seems fairly nihilistic or life denying from a surface view.

Because of this I started reading Mahayana based sutras such as the Heart Sutra, Lotus Sutra and so on and they really clicked with me. Do you have a recommendation on a sect to focus on? I live in a city with multiple Buddhist centers, even a Tibetan one and eventually want to connect with a teacher. Meditation practice is important to me, but I greatly enjoy the practice of understanding/studying Buddhist philosophical ideas.