Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism as a Religion and the Teachings of Buddha

Buddhism began some 2,500 years ago in Northern India in the foothills of Himalayas. Due to the lack of a god, and its leader Lord Buddha, Buddhism is seen as a somewhat different religion to other world religions. Buddhism consists of two disciplines known as Theravada and Mahayana.

Theravada Buddhism also referred to as Hinayana, meaning ‘Little Way’, believes that the monastic life is the only way for achieving Nirvana. Mahayana Buddhism, meaning ‘the great way’, believes there is a possibility of salvation for all. Theravada follows the teachings of Buddha closely, while Mahayana has diverted away from pure Buddhism. However, both Theravada and Mahayana believe in liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

Theravada Buddhism is most popular in Sri Lanka and is also practiced in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. Mahayana Buddhism is practiced in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam.

Theravada Buddhist believes the destiny of life is within everyone’s control. There is no belief in supernatural powers for achieving enlightenment. Theravada Buddhist do not believe in a god or any forms of gods as the creator of the world and someone that determines your destination. In its simplest, Theravada Buddhist believe in meditation as a method to strengthen your mind and therefore achieve enlightenment.

Lord Buddha, once an Indian prince, after seeing the sufferings of people in the Bihar province of India, left his palace including his beloved wife and son to find the truth of life. After seven hard years of meditation, he determined that the way of achieving enlightenment is a way of life known as the ‘mid way of life’. Theravada Buddhism enforces this belief.

Buddhism was invented as part of Lord Buddha’s mission to find enlightenment. In its simplest, achieving enlightenment means there is no rebirth, and state of Nirvana is achieved. As Buddha achieved this state, only way for achieving enlightenment remains his teachings.

Mahayana Buddhism is broken in to further subdivisions. Zen Buddhism started initially in China and then spread onto Japan and Korea. Tibetan Buddhism is another sub division of Mahayana and needless to say is practiced in Tibet. The Dalai Lama is the best known symbol of Tibetan Buddhism.

Pure Land Buddhism is another subdivision of Mahayana. In its simplest, it is chanting the name of Amitabha Buddha with pure concentration, such that you are reborn in the Pure Land, where you can work towards enlightenment.

Mahayana also refers a great deal to Bodhisattva, the lives led by Lord Buddha before his final life as Buddha. Mahayana believes in four wows known as the Bodhisattva wows.

I vow to liberate all beings, without number.

I vow to uproot endless blind passions.

I vow to penetrate dharma gates beyond measure.

I vow to attain the way of the Buddha.

Some festivals such as Wesak are shared by both Theravada and Mahayana, while Kathina is celebrated only by Theravada and O-bon by Mahayana. Both Theravada and Mahayana sub divisions of Buddhism provide for an interesting way of life, and are still heavily practiced, especially in South and Far East Asia.