We use a five fold method of practice in order to escape some of the serious pitfalls of following only one tradition. There is a lot of unnecessary baggage, rust and encrusted tradition that comes along with any one truth infused Path. For instance, there is a tendency to confuse outer dress with indispensable principles. For example, a zen nun will only wear a black robe and have their head shaven, whereas a Manichaean or Mandaean priestess will only wear a white garb and cannot cut their hair. (It should be obvious to the thoughtful that neither nullifies advancement toward achieving enlightenment/individuation.) These types of dilemmas become more difficult to unravel when it comes to ritualistic practices and deeper belief systems. By simultaneously utilizing five different traditions from five different areas and cultures of the world, these innate shortcomings can be better understood and possibly removed, leaving us with the core truths of each. Of course there is some limited value in holding onto some of the unique language, texts and customs of certain traditions, just to flavor and color them, but such  needs to be understood for what it is and not confused with the more indispensable truths that any one Path may have to offer.
 

• Firestar - Mt Kailash, Lake Manasarovar, and the Indus/Ganges rivers - Bon/Vajrayana/Jain/Sikh/Shavaite. Shenrab Miwo, Yeshe Tsogyal, et al  - Adoration and deification of ones Guru is seen as a serious pitfall of this cluster of traditions. The Jain Path putting to much emphasis on denial and disciplines.
• Windstar - Mt of the Moon, the Nile river - Gnostic/Jung. Yeshu, Jung, et al   - Miracle mongering and deification of  Yeshu and the Bible is problematic, as is the virgin birth and physical resurrection ideas that were overlaid over the Nazorean tradition by ignorant Jewish Romans in the first and second centuries. Too great a trust in Paul and the traditions of gentile Christianity that arose in his wake. Loss of the plant based diet by corrupt Christianity. Too much emphasis on a suffering Christ.
• Zephyrstar - Mt Ararat, Tigris-Euphrates rivers  -  Manichaean and Zoroastrian/Sufi. Mani, Rumi, et al  - Celibate and inactive Priesthood among the Manichaeans, fear of farming by their Elect, honoring of Mohammed and the Koran by Sufis.
• Earthstar - Kunlun Mt and the Yellow river - Zen/Shinto/Shingon/Taoist. Dogen, Lao Tzu, et al - Allowance of oysters in Taoism, an imperfect 5 element eating system, an overt honoring of ancestors and long held Confusian traditions. Confusion of Sidhartha with a true Buddha. 
• Waterstar - Mt Hermon, the Jordan River - Mandaean/Luriac Qabbalah. Miryai, Zazai, et al  - a false continuity of Tarmidta Priesthood lineages, a rejection of Yeshu the son of Miriam and an over emphasis of Yohan, addition of Jewish law and texts into Kabbalistic Paths.

• Obstacles: Dealing with distractions and obstacles to study and progress.
• Renouncings: Overcoming previous programing and bias.
• Warnings: How to negotiate contradictory feelings and sources of information. Judging rumor verses truth.
 Peace to all....