Divisions of Buddhism

There are two main divisions in Buddhism: Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism.

Theravada Buddhism

Theravada Buddhism is older and the more conservative of the two main divisions of Buddhism and is
often referred to as the ‘traditions of the elders’. Many Theravada Buddhists follow the teachings of the
Buddha exactly, and many of them are monks or nuns.

Theravada Buddhists strive to be arhats. Arhats are perfected people who have gained true insight into
the nature of reality. This means they have followed the Noble Eightfold Path to ‘blow out’ the three
fires of greed, hatred and ignorance and have become enlightened. In Buddhism, enlightenment leads
to nibbana (or nirvana), which means freedom from the cycle of rebirth (samsara). Consequently, they
will no longer be reborn through samsara.

Mahayana Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhists believe they can achieve enlightenment through following the teachings of the
Buddha. The goal of a Mahayana Buddhist may be to become a Bodhisattva and this is achieved through
the Six Perfections. Compassion is very important in Mahayana Buddhism. Therefore, Bodhisattvas
choose to stay in the cycle of samsara to help others to achieve enlightenment as well as themselves.

This is a key difference between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhists. Whereas Theravada Buddhists
strive to become Arhats and gain freedom from the cycle of samsara, Mahayana Buddhists may choose
to stay in the cycle of samsara out of compassion for others.

THERAVADA BUDDHISM

Theravad Buddhist forest monk

Theravada Buddhism ("doctrine of the elders") is the oldest and most orthodox of Buddhism's three
major sects. Regarded as the belief closest to the one taught by The Buddha himself, it is based on the
recollections of The Buddha's teachings amassed by the Elders---the elder monks who were Buddha's
companions. It is practiced in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and the Mekong Delta areas of
Vietnam.

Theravada Buddhism was one of 18 schools that existed in centuries after The Buddha's death.. It
spread from India to Sri Lanka and then to Southeast Asia and remained close to the original Pali canon
(See Below). The other 17 schools disappeared when Muslims swept into northern India and destroyed
the Buddhist monasteries that existed there. Theravada Buddhism is sometimes referred to in a
somewhat dismissing way as Hinayana (“Lesser Vehicle”) Buddhism by Mahayana Buddhists.

Theravada Buddhism stresses spirituality, the enlightenment of the individual, self-discipline, the
importance or pure thought and deed, the importance of the monastic life and the strict observance of
the ancient Vinaya code It has distinct roles for monks and lay people, emphasizes that each individual is
responsible for his or her salvation and takes the position that only monks are capable of reaching
nirvana.

Theravada Buddhist Beliefs

The Noble Virtues of Therevada Buddhism are loving kindness, understanding, serenity and satisfaction
for others’ well-being. The three principal aspects of existence are: 1) dukkha (suffering, disease and
pursuit of desire); 2) anicca (impermanence and the temporary state of all things); and 3) anatta (the
illusion of reality). The guiding principal in Theravada Buddhism is that nothing is permanent and
attachment to things will only bring unhappiness and distract one from intrinsic spiritual matters. Anicca
teaches that nothing lasts. Trying to embrace experiences, states of mind and objects only causes
dukkha. Annatta is coming to the understanding that there is there is no point dwelling on one's place in
this world.

In Theravada Buddhism worship and devotion to persons is frowned upon. The offerings of fruit and
flowers made are temples are symbols of impermanence not an object of worship. Chants are not
prayers but are reminders of the beneficence of The Buddha, Dharma and the monk community.

Theravada Buddhists insist that Gautama, both as Siddhartha and The Buddha, was a man, not a god or
myth or legend, and was subject to the same pain and suffering as other humans but sought a
transcendent state beyond human life. They say The Buddha took a vow aeons ago under the First
Buddha to pursue the enlightenment on his own, and was reincarnated hundreds of times in that quest
before he became a Buddha. They view his death as such a complete break from material existence that
is he so free from the human world that he no longer exists.
Mahayana Buddhism

Korean Bodhisattva

Mahayana Buddhism encompasses a wide range of philosophical schools, metaphysical beliefs, and
practical meditative disciplines. It is more widespread and has more followers than Theravada Buddhism
and includes Zen and Soka-gakkai Buddhism. It is practiced primarily in northern half of the Buddhist
world: in China, Tibet, Korea, Mongolia, Taiwan, Vietnam and Japan.

"Mahayana” means "the Great Vehicle." The word vehicle is used because Buddhist doctrine is often
compared to a raft or ship that carries one across the world of suffering to better world. Greater is
reference to the universality of its doctrines and beliefs as opposed to narrowness of other schools.
Theravada Buddhism is sometimes referred to in a somewhat dismissing way as the Hinayana (“Lesser
Vehicle”) sect. Mahayana Buddhism is not a single group but a collection of Buddhist traditions: Zen
Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism are all forms of Mahayana Buddhism.

According to “Topics in Japanese Cultural History”: The embodiment of this Mahayana ideal was the
bodhisattva. A bodhisattva is one who has eliminated all desires and is therefore eligible to pass into
nirvana. Out of a feeling of compassion for the millions of other suffering creatures, however, the
bodhisattva withholds his/her/its entry into nirvana to remain in this world and help others. The various
bodhisattvas have taken vows to remain in this world until all creatures are ready to enter nirvana."
Mahayana Buddhism is not one, unified entity. “The division between Mahayana and Theravada is
roughly comparable to the divisions like Catholic vs. Protestant or Roman Catholic vs. Eastern Orthodox
in Christianity. Just as there are many denominations of Protestant Christianity, so too are there many
denominations of Mahayana Buddhism. [Source: “Topics in Japanese Cultural History” by Gregory Smits,
Penn State University figal-sensei.org ]

Mahayana Buddhist Beliefs

 Mahayana Buddhists believe in a multitude of heavens, hells and descriptions of nirvana and have great
reverence for Bodhisattvas “Buddhist "saints" on the verge of nirvana who stopped short of attaining it,
so, like Buddha, they could teach their method to others.

Mahayana Buddhists believe that salvation is accessible to all those who have faith and regard their
religion as a way of life that can be embraced by any one. They also enjoy philosophical discussion and
intellectual gymnastics and enlist the help of female deities and magical forces and worship a pantheon
of gods, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Mahayana Buddhists see The Buddha as the sum total of everything there is; discount his historical
personage; view his life on earth in magical and transcendent terms; and have Bodhisattvas and
Buddhas that address issues important to ordinary people. The Supreme Buddha became an all knowing
force that pervaded every part of the universe, like a creator God.

Mahayana Buddhism places an emphasis on the process of attaining nirvana through the purification of
the consciousness and has been “expanded” to respond to the needs of local people it severed. Its
followers a number of mythologies and ontological doctrines. They see true reality as “Emptiness”;
define ten stages which Bodhisattvas must pass through to reach Buddhahood; and see everything being
connected by a kind of cosmic thread rooted in true reality.

Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism compared

Similarities Between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism

According to the BBC: Theravada and Mahayana are both rooted in the basic teachings of the historical
Buddha, and both emphasise the individual search for liberation from the cycle of samsara (birth, death,
rebirth...). The methods or practices for doing that, however, can be very different."

Dr. W. Rahula wrote: “I have studied Mahayana for many years and the more I study it, the more I find
there is hardly any difference between Theravada and Mahayana with regard to the fundamental
teachings. 1) Both accept Sakyamuni Buddha as the Teacher. 2) The Four Noble Truths are exactly the
same in both schools. 3) The Eightfold Path is exactly the same in both schools. 4) The Paticca-
samuppada or the Dependent Origination is the same in both schools. 5) Both rejected the idea of a
supreme being who created and governed this world. 6) Both accept Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta and Sila,
Samadhi, Panna without any difference. These are the most important teachings of the Buddha and they
are all accepted by both schools without question. [Source: Dr. W. Rahula, BuddhaSasana (budsas.org),
Wisdom Quarterly: American Buddhist Journal, August 14, 2008; Grant Olson, Center for Southeast
Asian Studies at Northern Illinois University +++]

Key Differences Between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhists claim their doctrines are rooted in early teachings of Buddha and say they do not
reject the beliefs of Theravada Buddhism, but have just expanded on them. Theravada Buddhists view
Mahayana Buddhism as a corrupted form of Buddha's teaching plus see it as too easy. Theravada
Buddhists are taught that one must “work out one's own salvation with diligence” whereas Mahayana
Buddhists believe faith is enough to earn all believers eventual salvation. Theravada Buddhism and
Mahayana Buddhism differ greatly on the matter of Bodhisattvas. Mahayana Buddhists recognize many
of them as well as many Buddhas. Theravada Buddhists recognize just one, The Buddha.

The tenets of Mahayana Buddhism are more vague and all-encompassing than the strict tenets of
Theravada Buddhism, but its followers often conform to a very regimented routine as is the case with
Zen. Mahayana Buddhists believe in a multitude of heavens, hells and descriptions of nirvana and have
great reverence for Bodhisattvas—Buddhist "saints" on the verge of nirvana who stopped short of
attaining it, so, like Buddha, they could teach their method to others.

Mahayana Buddhists see The Buddha as the sum total of everything there is; discount his historical
personage; view his life on earth in magical and transcendent terms; and have Bodhisattvas and
Buddhas that address issues important to ordinary people. The Supreme Buddha became an all knowing
force that pervaded every part of the universe, like a creator God.

Arhats at Sam Poh Chi Temple in Malaysia

 On ways Mayahana and Theravada Buddhism are different, Dr. W. Rahula wrote: “There are also,
however, some points of difference, or at least of emphasis. An obvious one is the “Bodhisattva ideal."
Many people say that Mahayana is for a Bodhisattvahood that will lead to Buddhahood, while
Theravada is for Arahantship (immediate enlightenment as taught by the Buddha). I must point out that
the Buddha was an arahant (an enlightened one). A Nonteaching (Prateka or Pacceka) Buddha is also an
arahant. A disciple can also be an arahant. Mahayana texts never use the term “Arahant-yana," the
Arahant Vehicle. Instead, Mahayanists use three terms: Bodhisattva-yana, Prateka-Buddha-yana, and
Sravaka-yana (the Bodhisattva-vehicle, the Nonteaching-Buddha vehicle, and the Disciple-vehicle). In the
Theravada tradition these three are called Bodhis. [Source: Dr. W. Rahula, BuddhaSasana (budsas.org),
Wisdom Quarterly: American Buddhist Journal, August 14, 2008; Grant Olson, Center for Southeast
Asian Studies at Northern Illinois University +++]

“Some people mistakenly imagine that Theravada Buddhism is “selfish” because it teaches (what the
historical Buddha taught) that people should diligently work towards their own salvation without
helping others. But how could a selfish person ever gain enlightenment? (It would be impossible
because selfishness precludes the compassion and wisdom necessary for realizing the truth that leads to
enlightenment and the liberation of nirvana). Both schools accept the three Yanas or Bodhis and
consider Bodhisattvahood the ideal, the highest. The difference is Mahayana Buddhism has created
many mystical Bodhisattvas, while Theravada Buddhism considers a “bodhisattva” a person among us
who devotes his or her entire life to the attainment of perfection, ultimately attaining buddhahood
[enlightenment] for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of the world." +++

Buddhism Before the Theravada -Mahayana Split

Dr. W. Rahula wrote: What is the difference between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism? To see
things in their proper perspective, let us turn to the history of Buddhism and trace the emergence and
development of Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism. [Source: Dr. W. Rahula, BuddhaSasana
(budsas.org), Wisdom Quarterly: American Buddhist Journal, August 14, 2008; Grant Olson, Center for
Southeast Asian Studies at Northern Illinois University +++]

“The Buddha was born in the 6th Century B.C. After attaining Enlightenment at the age of 35 until his
Mahaparinibbana at the age of 80, he spent his life preaching and teaching. He was certainly one of the
most energetic man who ever lived: for forty-five years he taught and preached day and night, sleeping
for only about 2 hours a day. +++
 “The Buddha spoke to all kinds of people: kings and princes, Brahmins, farmers, beggars, learned men
and ordinary people. His teachings were tailored to the experiences, levels of understanding and mental
capacity of his audience. What he taught was called Buddha Vacana, i.e. word of the Buddha. There was
nothing called Theravada or Mahayana at that time. +++

“After establishing the Order of monks and nuns, the Buddha laid down certain disciplinary rules called
the Vinaya for the guidance of the Order. The rest of his teachings were called the Dhamma which
included his discourses, sermons to monks, nuns and lay people." +++

First Buddhist Council

Sattapanni or Sattaparni Cave, on one of the hills around Rajgir, Bihar, India, is where the First Buddhist
Council took place, in the year after the Buddha's passsing away (Parinirvana)

Dr. W. Rahula wrote: “Three months after the Buddha's final nirvana, his immediate disciples convened
a council in Rajagaha, India. Maha Kassapa, the most respected and elderly monk, presided over that
council. Two very important Great Disciples (mahatheras) who specialized in the two distinct areas of
the Teaching (the Dharma and the Vinaya) were present. The first was Ananda, the Buddha's closest
companion and disciple over the preceding 25 years. Endowed with a remarkable memory (even in an
age of remarkable memories), Ananda was able to recite all the discourses the Buddha had uttered.
[When sutras begin “Thus have I heard," Ananda is that “I” and he made this statement in front of the
First Council of enlightened elders]. The other monastic was Upali, who had committed all of the
Discipline to memory. The other personality was Upali who remembered all the Vinaya rules."Source:
Dr. W. Rahula, BuddhaSasana (budsas.org), Wisdom Quarterly: American Buddhist Journal, August 14,
2008; Grant Olson, Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Northern Illinois University +++]

“Only these two sections, Discourses and Discipline, were recited at the First Council. Although there
were no differences of opinion on the Dharma (no mention was yet made of the Abhidharma, “Higher
Teaching," the metaphysical and psychological explanations), there was some discussion about the
Rules. Before the Buddha's was to pass into nirvana, he told Ananda that if the Order wished to amend
or modify some “minor” rules after his passing, they could do so. But on that occasion Ananda,
overpowered by grief on hearing of the Buddha's impending passing, it did not occur to him to ask what
the “minor” rules were. +++
 “As the members of the First Council were unable to agree as to what constituted those minor rules,
Maha Kassapa finally ruled that no disciplinary rule laid down by the Buddha should be changed and
that no new ones should be introduced. No intrinsic reason was given. Maha Kassapa did say one thing,
however: “If we changed the rules, people would say that Ven. Gautama's disciples changed them even
before his funeral pyre had gone out." At the First Council, the Dharma was divided into various
sections, and each section was assigned to an Elder (a Thera) and his pupils to commit to memory. The
Dharma (or “Teaching," the Vada) was then passed on from teacher to pupil orally. The Dharma was
recited daily by groups of monastics who often cross checked each other to ensure that no omissions or
additions were made. Historians agree that an oral tradition is more reliable than a report written by
one person from memory several years later." +++