Mahāyāna and Theravāda Schools

1024 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Comparative between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism

The Buddha's message, like other religious dogmas, has multiple interpretations. There are several schools of Buddhism and this paper will outline the dissimilarities between two of them. The Theravāda and Mahāyāna schools view Buddhism in different ways. Both schools share understandings of things such as the Buddha’s teachings and the path to an ultimate goal, however; elements like enlightenment, scriptures, and language are understood differently within the two traditions. Looking at the similarities and differences of both schools, this paper will outline how the two schools were developed as well as the differences between these two subsets of this growing religion.
In order to understand the diversity between the two schools, it is crucial to have an understanding of the similarities as well. One of most common understandings between both the Theravāda and Mahāyāna schools is the teaching of the Four Noble Truths. These four truths include: the truth of suffering (duhkha), the truth of arising (samudaya), the truth of cessation (nirodha), and the truth of the way (marga) to the cessation of suffering. The fourth truth, the truth of the way, can be elaborated by looking at the Noble Eight Fold Path (reference Appendix A). This includes the steps to follow in order to reach the ultimate final goal.
The other important agreement between both religions is the acceptance of Shakyamuni Buddha as the teacher. Born as Siddhartha Guatama of the Sakyas, the Buddha began his life in 563 BCE. He was born in what is now known as Nepal. His father was a king of a subcontinent in India, and Siddhartha lived a fairly luxurious life for his time. It is said he was a wealthy and dignified man who was very attractive and dressed in silks. He...

... middle of paper ...

...010. Print.
Bhagwat, N. K. Buddhist Philosphy of the Theravāda . Delhi: C.P. Gautam, 2006. Print.
Dunne, John D. "Encyclopedia of Religion: Buddhism, Schools of: Mahāyāna Philosophical Schools of Buddhism ." Gale Virtual Reference Library. 2005.Web. 2013-11-15 .
Gombrich, Richard. Theravāda Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benares to Modern Colombo. London and New York: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1988. Print.
Smith, Huston. "Buddhism." 1991.Web. 2013-10-25 .
Suzuki, Beatrice Lane. Mahāyāna Buddhism: A Brief Outline. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1972. Print.

Show More
Related

  • Empress Wu and Buddhism: A Symbiotic Relationship

    2294 Words  | 5 Pages

    Yu, Han. “Memorial on Buddhism”. Making of the Modern World 12: Classical & Medieval Tradition. Trans. Richard F. Burton. Ed. Janet Smarr. La Jolla: University Readers, 2012. 111-112. Print.

    Read More

  • Compare and Contrast the Lives of Buddha and Jesus

    3762 Words  | 8 Pages

    It is said that history is shaped by the lives of great men.  Great men are leaders.  They bring about change; they improve the lives of others; they introduce new ideas, models, and theories to society.  Most of the world's religions were founded, developed, or discovered by great men.  Two particular religions - Christianity and Buddhism - developed in different parts of the world, under different circumstances, and in different social atmospheres.  But each religion is based upon the teachings of a great man.  When one compares the life of Buddha with the life of Jesus, one finds that the two share many things in common.  This essay aims to compare and contrast the lives of Buddha1 and Jesus in two key areas:  conception and birth.  In these two areas, one finds that the Buddha and Jesus share many similarities.

    Read More

  • Buddhism In America Essay

    804 Words  | 2 Pages

    Buddhism is a religion from the East that has spread to many different countries all over the world. It has spread to the West, and has had a great influence and impact, especially in America. However, the Buddhism that is practiced in the United States is not exactly the same as the one that is practiced in Asian countries. If Buddhism differs between the different traditions of the Asian countries themselves, it is obvious that it will differ greatly in America as well. However, even though there are obvious differences, it is important to maintain the core values and fundamental principles the same. This research explores how the three different types of Buddhist practitioners have adopted Buddhism in America, and it describes some differences

    Read More

  • Zen and the Art of William Shakespeare

    2383 Words  | 5 Pages

    middle of paper ... ... Introduction to Zen Buddhism. Daisetz Suzuki. Kampolsky, Philip.

    Read More

  • Buddhist Art of The Wei Dynasty

    1903 Words  | 4 Pages

    Fisher, Mary Pat. "Chapter 5: Buddhsim." Living Religions. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice-Hall, 2005. 150-62. Print.

    Read More

  • Buddhism and Islam

    1683 Words  | 4 Pages

    In addition, Buddhism places emphasis on the Four Noble Truths, which is the teaching of Buddha, a guide to enlightenment. These are a set of guidance that basically teaches the followers of Buddha the essence of...

    Read More

  • Asceticism in Buddhism and Hinduism

    1799 Words  | 4 Pages

    Eliot, Sir Charles. HINDUISM AND BUDDHISM. 1921. Vol. 1. London: ROUTLEDGE & KEGAN PAUL LTD, 1954. 3 vols. wisdom library. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. .

    Read More

  • Tibetan Buddhism and the Island of Kauai

    1038 Words  | 3 Pages

    Buddhism and Buddhist philosophy can have a substantial amount of unfamiliar terminology and specific meanings for words we think we know the definition to. In order to ensure comprehension and clarity a few terms need to be defined. Buddhism as a spiritual movement is the following of the teachings of a fifth century B.C. E. Indian spiritual leader named known as Siddhartha Gautama, Shakyamuni, or --in the case of this essay-- the Buddha. Tibetan Buddhism will be defined in a similar manner. Tibetan Buddhism is in the course of this essay will focus on one of the six schools of thought in the Tibetan Buddhist cannon. The “Oral Tradition” or the Kagyu School is the monastic linage that arrives in Kauai in the twentieth century.

    Read More

  • Buddha and Confucius

    824 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the Buddha’s first sermon, he laid out the four main ideas that he had been enlightened with; he called them the Four Noble Truths. 1) Everything in life is suffering and sorrow. 2) The cause of all suffering is people’s selfish desire for the temporary pleasures of this world. 3)

    Read More

  • Analysis of Buddhism Plain and Simple by Steve Hagen

    774 Words  | 2 Pages

    Bibliography: Religious Persons and Traditions Buddhism- Plain and Simple

    Read More

  • Buddhism : Buddhism And Buddhism

    1715 Words  | 4 Pages

    Siddhartha Gautama is famously known as Gautama Buddha and was the founder of the idea of Buddhism. The Buddha was known to possess supernatural powers and abilities. He was born in the holy land of Nepal and his journey began in India when he decided to travel and teach himself about life. In the midst of his journey, he discovered Buddhism after he experienced a profound realization of the nature of life, death and existence. Buddhism became a religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama and since then Buddhism has been popular throughout many civilizations. Buddhism is now one of the most ancient religions in the world, where people follow Buddha, which stand for “awakened one,” and Buddhism which has gained popularity because of the teachings of the Buddha.

    Read More

  • Buddhist Religion Experience: Personal Narrative

    1522 Words  | 4 Pages

    A man and a woman led us to a small room. The man wore jeans and a regular t-shirt and the women wore a colorful dress reaching her knees. The man later told us that he typically didn’t wear jeans, instead he is generally in a more relaxed and comfortable attire. In the small room, there were four quilts laid out on the floor with cushions to sit on. All of the small quilts faced one wall, which contained three statues and a couple of pictures. On the left side of the wall was a statue of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha. As stated in an article in World-Faiths, Buddhism was established upon Siddhartha’s teachings. He was an Indian prince who began his spiritual journey when he was 29 years old. After six years, he rea...

    Read More

  • Buddhism

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    The study of Buddhism over the past century or so has resembled the encounter of the blind men and the elephant in many ways. Students of Buddhism have tended to fasten onto a small part of the tradition and assume their conclusions held true about the whole. Often the parts they have seized on have been a little like the elephant's tusks a striking, but unrepresentative, part of the whole animal. As a result, many erroneous and sweeping generalizations about Buddhism have been made, such as that it is 'negative', 'world-denying', 'pessimistic', and so forth.

    Read More

  • The Hippie Movement

    1545 Words  | 4 Pages

    "What is Buddhism? | The Buddhist Centre." What is Buddhism? | The Buddhist Centre. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. .

    Read More

  • Mahayana Buddhism

    1382 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...deed present at the heart of the Mahayana tradition, it has also been expanded upon in order to answer the philosophical questions that the Pali Canons ignored. Mahayana Buddhism introduces the idea of the “inner Buddhahood”, compassionate Bodhisattvas, dharma as empty, and finally may also encourage a bit of clinging to the recitation and repetition of its dharma. However, aforementioned, it still emphasizes the Buddha’s teachings outlined in the Pali Canons, the existence of dukkha and awakening as a way to overcome it, and especially the Noble Eight Fold Path. Mahayana Buddhism is simply a representation of the Buddhist faith being adapted in a way to make it more all encompassing and strives to provide all, not just the clergy, with a closer connection with the Buddha and his teachings.

    Read More

More about Mahāyāna and Theravāda Schools

Open Document