Three
Branches of Buddhism
Buddhism has evolved into myriad schools
that can be roughly grouped into three types: Nikaya, Mahayana, and
Vajrayana. Of the Nikaya schools, only the Theravada survives. Each
branch sees itself as representing the true, original teachings of
the Buddha, and some schools believe that the dialectic nature of
Buddhism allows its format, terminology, and techniques to adapt
over time in response to changing circumstances, thus validating
dharmic approaches different from their own.
Theravada
The Theravada school, whose name means "Doctrine of the Elders",
bases its practice and doctrine exclusively on the Pali Canon, which
is a collection of what are known as agamas or nikaya sutras. The nikaya
sutras are generally considered by modern scholars to be the oldest of
the surviving types of Buddhist literature, and they are accepted as
authentic in every branch of Buddhism. Theravada is the only surviving
representative of the historical Nikaya branch. Nikaya Buddhism and consequently
Theravada are sometimes referred to as Hinayana or "lesser vehicle",
although this is considered by some to be impolite. Native Theravada
is practiced today in Sri Lanka, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and
portions of Vietnam and Malaysia.
Mahayana
The Mahayana (literally "Great Vehicle") branch emphasizes
universal compassion and the selfless ideal of the bodhisattva. In addition
to the Nikaya scriptures, Mahayana schools recognize all or part of a
genre of scriptures that were first put in writing around 1 CE. These
scriptures were written in some form of Sanskrit, except a few manuscripts
in Prakrit, and are concerned with the purpose of achieving Buddhahood
by following the path of the bodhisattva over the course of what is often
described as countless eons of time. Because of this immense timeframe,
many Mahayana schools accept the idea of working towards rebirth in a
Pure Land. The Pure Land is normally conceived of as a state which is
not enlightenment in itself but which is a highly conducive environment
for working toward enlightenment, although some sources indicate that
it is synonymous with enlightenment. Native Mahayana Buddhism is practiced
today in China, Japan, Korea, and most of Vietnam. Note that Vajrayana
schools described below see themselves as part of Mahayana, cultivating
both exoteric Mahayana practices and esoteric tantrism, depending on
the capacities of the individual.
Vajrayana
The Vajrayana or "Diamond Vehicle" (also referred to as Mantrayana,
Tantrayana, Tantric or esoteric Buddhism) shares many of the basic concepts
of Mahayana, but also includes a vast array of spiritual techniques designed
to enhance Buddhist practice. One component of the Vajrayana is harnessing
psycho-physical energy as a means of developing profoundly powerful states
of concentration and awareness. These profound states are in turn to
be used as an efficient path to Buddhahood. Using these techniques, it
is claimed that a practitioner can achieve Buddhahood in one lifetime,
or as little as three years. In addition to the Theravada and Mahayana
scriptures, Vajrayana Buddhists recognise a large body of texts that
include the Buddhist Tantras. Native Vajrayana is practiced today mainly
in Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, Kalmykia, areas of India, and -- among
the Shingon and Tendai schools -- in China and Japan.
At the
present time the teachings of all three branches of Buddhism
have spread throughout the world and are now easily available
in the developed countries, and increasingly translated
into the local language.
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