Difference between revisions of "Theravada vs. Mahayana Buddhism"
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! !! Theravada!!Mahayana | ! !! Theravada!!Mahayana | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | '''Location''' || Southern (Sri Lanka, Thailand,<br/> Burma, Laos, Cambodia, parts of<br/> Southeast Asia) ||Northern (Tibet, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea,<br/> Mongolia, parts of Southeast Asia ) | + | | '''Location''' || Southern ([[Sri Lanka]], [[Thailand]],<br/> [[Burma]], [[Laos]], [[Cambodia]], parts of<br/> {{Wiki|Southeast Asia}}) ||Northern ([[Tibet]], [[China]], [[Taiwan]], [[Japan]], [[Korea]],<br/> [[Mongolia]], parts of {{Wiki|Southeast Asia}} ) |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | '''Schools and Sects''' || One surviving school <br/>(as many as 18 existed at one time) || | + | | '''Schools and Sects''' || One surviving school <br/>(as many as 18 existed at one [[time]]) || |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |'''Buddhist Scriptures''' || Pali Canon/[[Tripitaka]] only || Books of the Theravada [[Tripitaka]] plus many<br/> other sutras (e.g. [[Lotus Sutra]]) | + | |'''[[Buddhist Scriptures]]''' || [[Pali Canon]]/[[Tripitaka]] only || [[Books]] of the [[Theravada]] [[Tripitaka]] plus many<br/> other [[sutras]] (e.g. [[Lotus Sutra]]) |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | '''Buddhas'''|| Historical Buddha ([[Gautama]])<br/> and past Buddhas only ||Gautama Buddha plus Amitabha,<br/> Medicine Buddhas, and others | + | | '''[[Buddhas]]'''|| [[Historical Buddha]] ([[Gautama]])<br/> and {{Wiki|past}} [[Buddhas]] only ||[[Gautama Buddha]] plus [[Amitabha]],<br/> [[Medicine Buddhas]], and others |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |'''Bodhisattvas''' || Maitreya only || Maitreya plus [[Avalokitesvara]], [[Manjusri]],<br/> [[Ksitigarbha]] and [[Samantabhadra]]<br/> and many more | + | |'''[[Bodhisattvas]]''' || [[Maitreya]] only || [[Maitreya]] plus [[Avalokitesvara]], [[Manjusri]],<br/> [[Ksitigarbha]] and [[Samantabhadra]]<br/> and many more |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |'''Goal of Training''' || Arhat || [[Buddhahood]] via [[bodhisattva]]-path | + | |'''Goal of Training''' || [[Arhat]] || [[Buddhahood]] via [[bodhisattva]]-[[path]] |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |'''3 Buddha Bodies ([[Trikaya]])''' || Very limited emphasis; mainly on<br/> [[nirmana-kaya]] and [[dharma-kaya]] || Emphasized, including the [[samboga-kaya]] or<br/> reward/enjoyment body | + | |'''[[3 Buddha Bodies]] ([[Trikaya]])''' || Very limited {{Wiki|emphasis}}; mainly on<br/> [[nirmana-kaya]] and [[dharma-kaya]] || Emphasized, including the [[samboga-kaya]] or<br/> reward/enjoyment [[body]] |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |'''Original Language''' || Pali || Sanskrit | + | |'''Original [[Language]]''' || [[Pali]] || [[Sanskrit]] |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |'''Language of Transmission''' || [[Tripitaka]] is only in Pali. Teaching in<br/> Pali supplemented by local language. || Scriptures translated into local language. | + | |'''[[Language]] of [[Transmission]]''' || [[Tripitaka]] is only in [[Pali]]. [[Teaching]] in<br/> [[Pali]] supplemented by local [[language]]. || [[Scriptures]] translated into local [[language]]. |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |'''Buddha's Disciples''' || Historical disciples described in Scriptures || Many [[bodhisattva]]s that are not historical figures | + | |'''[[Buddha's Disciples]]''' || Historical [[disciples]] described in [[Scriptures]] || Many [[bodhisattva]]s that are not historical figures |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |'''Mantras and Mudras''' || Some equivalent in the use of<br/> Parittas || Emphasized in Vajrayana; sometimes<br/> incorporated in other schools | + | |'''[[Mantras]] and [[Mudras]]''' || Some {{Wiki|equivalent}} in the use of<br/> [[Parittas]] || Emphasized in [[Vajrayana]]; sometimes<br/> incorporated in other schools |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |'''[[Bardo]] (Limbo)'''|| Rejected || Taught by all schools | + | |'''[[Bardo]] (Limbo)'''|| Rejected || [[Taught]] by all schools |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |'''Non-Buddhist Influences''' || Mainly pre-Buddhist Indian<br/> influences like concepts of karma,<br/> sangha, etc. ||Heavily influenced by local religious ideas as<br/> transmitted to new cultures (China, Japan, Tibet). | + | |'''[[Non-Buddhist]] [[Influences]]''' || Mainly pre-Buddhist [[Indian]]<br/> [[influences]] like [[Wikipedia:concept|concepts]] of [[karma]],<br/> [[sangha]], etc. ||Heavily influenced by local [[religious]] [[ideas]] as<br/> transmitted to new cultures ([[China]], [[Japan]], [[Tibet]]). |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |'''Buddha Nature'''|| Not taught || Emphasized, especially in practice-based schools | + | |'''[[Buddha Nature]]'''|| Not [[taught]] || Emphasized, especially in practice-based schools |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |'''Rituals''' ||Very few; not emphasized || Many, owing to local cultural influences | + | |'''[[Rituals]]''' ||Very few; not emphasized || Many, owing to local {{Wiki|cultural}} [[influences]] |
|} | |} | ||
Latest revision as of 07:48, 26 August 2014
8 major schools: four practice-based (Zen, Pure Land, Vajrayana, Vinaya); four philosophy-based (Tendai, Avamtasaka, Yogacara and Madhyamika)
| Theravada | Mahayana | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Southern (Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, parts of Southeast Asia) |
Northern (Tibet, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, parts of Southeast Asia ) |
| Schools and Sects | One surviving school (as many as 18 existed at one time) |
|
| Buddhist Scriptures | Pali Canon/Tripitaka only | Books of the Theravada Tripitaka plus many other sutras (e.g. Lotus Sutra) |
| Buddhas | Historical Buddha (Gautama) and past Buddhas only |
Gautama Buddha plus Amitabha, Medicine Buddhas, and others |
| Bodhisattvas | Maitreya only | Maitreya plus Avalokitesvara, Manjusri, Ksitigarbha and Samantabhadra and many more |
| Goal of Training | Arhat | Buddhahood via bodhisattva-path |
| 3 Buddha Bodies (Trikaya) | Very limited emphasis; mainly on nirmana-kaya and dharma-kaya |
Emphasized, including the samboga-kaya or reward/enjoyment body |
| Original Language | Pali | Sanskrit |
| Language of Transmission | Tripitaka is only in Pali. Teaching in Pali supplemented by local language. |
Scriptures translated into local language. |
| Buddha's Disciples | Historical disciples described in Scriptures | Many bodhisattvas that are not historical figures |
| Mantras and Mudras | Some equivalent in the use of Parittas |
Emphasized in Vajrayana; sometimes incorporated in other schools |
| Bardo (Limbo) | Rejected | Taught by all schools |
| Non-Buddhist Influences | Mainly pre-Buddhist Indian influences like concepts of karma, sangha, etc. |
Heavily influenced by local religious ideas as transmitted to new cultures (China, Japan, Tibet). |
| Buddha Nature | Not taught | Emphasized, especially in practice-based schools |
| Rituals | Very few; not emphasized | Many, owing to local cultural influences |
