Buddhism: The Hinayana Sect

Centuries after the death of Buddha, followers of his teachings multiplied as his influential ideas spread throughout the region. But discontent amongst the followers began to accumulate as Buddha’s vague teachings were constantly interpreted and re-interpreted, leading to many discrepancies. These discrepancies lead to different ideologies and the division of the religious order into various sects. The two main sects became the known as the Mahayana school and the Hinayana school but despite the artificial differences resulting from the division of the Mahayana sect from the earlier Buddhist teachings (Hinayana), the essence of their beliefs is two of the same.

The Hinayana Sect, meaning the ‘lesser vehicle’ was termed by the rival Mahayana, meaning ‘great vehicle’. The division between the sects was largely a result of the discrepancy/inaccessibility of Buddhist teaching/practice, and the ultimate purpose of Buddhist practice. There seemed to be no clear path to cessation and even some of Buddha’s teachings seem contradictory. Much of Buddha’s teachings was not accessible to the general population and there was not much of a connection between the lay followers and the religious order. Beliefs that the pursuit of self-enlightenment is too selfish grew and soon lead to a change in the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice. The formation of the Mahayana sect clarified Buddhist teachings and practices, streamlining it for the masses.

One of the biggest reforms resulting from the formation of the Mahayana sect is the actual goal in the practice of Buddhism. In the Mahayana school of thought, the bodhisattvas are emphasized in their importance, as they are all-powerful enlightened beings that choose not to attain full escape from the...

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...the goal is readily apparent in much of the earlier Buddhist teachings and practices, as there would be no Buddhism and only one/few Buddha(s) if self-enlightenment stood as the lone goal. This idea alone shows the artificiality of the reform, as true informed Buddhists would see the truths between the lines without explicit statements.

Another emphasis is the idea of nondualism, as the Mahayana believed that the earlier teachings focused too much on extremes and distinction and through the use of nondualism an individual may find a middle way. The Mahayana emphasis on nondualism is not a new train of thought and while it was used to critique aspects of the Hinayana sect, the idea of ‘emptiness’ was already apparent in earlier Buddhist teachings and can also be used to critique aspects of the Mahayana school itself, as its self-proclamation of the ‘great vehicle’.