I think the marketing and merchandise are what really get people in rather than the diversity of teachings.flavio81 wrote: What i mean is that it encompasses different levels and different teachings, and each one of it is of more appeal (and benefits best) a certain type of person and/or a certain circumstance in life. This is what i meant with "all colors and sizes".
On top of that if you get involved in the Tibet Independence movement, your spirituality is connected with social activism, i.e., social activism that is religiously charged, to be beneficial in this and future lifetimes. To be politically active for the Tibetan causes translates into action for the True Dharma. Tibetan nationalism aligned with Tibetan Buddhism as a religion means your political endeavours are meritorious and count towards enlightenment.
I think this appeals to a lot of westerners who feel obligated to participate in social movements. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem, they say. So you get your activism religiously vindicated.