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TOPIC
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THERAVADA
BUDDHISM
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MAHAYANA
BUDDHISM
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1
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The
Buddha |
Only
the historical Gautama (Sakyamuni) Buddha and past Buddhas
are accepted. |
Besides
Sakyamuni Buddha, other contemporary Buddhas like Amitabha
and Medicine Buddha are also very popular. |
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2
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Bodhisattvas |
Only
Maitreya Bodhisattva is accepted. |
Avalokitesvara,
Mansjuri, Ksitigarbha and Samanthabadra are four very
well known Bodhisattvas besides Maitreya. |
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3
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Objective
of training |
Arahant
or Pacceka Buddha. |
Buddhahood
(via the Bodhisattva path). |
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4
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Organisation
of Buddhist scriptures
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The
Pali Canon is divided into three baskets (Tipitaka):
Vinaya Pitaka of 5 books, Sutta Pitaka of 5 collections
(many suttas) and Abhidhamma Pitaka of 7 books.
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The
Mahayana Buddhist Canon also consists of Tripitaka of
disciplines, discourses (sutras) and Dharma analysis.
It is usually organised in 12 divisions of topics like
Cause and Conditions and Verses. It contains virtually
all the Theravada Tipikata and many sutras that the
latter does not have. |
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5
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Concept
of Bodhicitta |
Main
emphasis is self liberation.
There is total reliance on oneself to eradicate all
defilements. |
Besides
self liberation, it is important for Mahayana followers
to help other sentient beings. |
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6
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Trikaya
concept |
Very
limited emphasis on the 3 bodies of a Buddha. References
are mainly on Nirmana-kaya and Dharma-kaya. |
Very
well mentioned in Mahayana Buddhism. Samboga-kaya or
reward/enjoyment body completes the Trikaya concept. |
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7
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Transmission
route |
Southern
transmission: Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia
and parts of Southeast Asia. |
Northern
transmission: Tibet, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Mongolia
and parts of Southeast Asia. |
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8
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Language
of Dharma teaching |
Tipitaka
is strictly in Pali. Dharma teaching in Pali supplemented
by local language. |
Buddhist
canon is translated into the local language (except
for the 5 untranslatables), e.g. Tibetan, Chinese and
Japanese. Original language of transmission is Sanskrit. |
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9
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Nirvana
(Nibbana in Pali) |
No
distinction is made between nirvana attained by a Buddha
and that of an arahat or Pacceka Buddha. |
Also
known as 'liberation from Samsara,' there are subtle
distinctions in the level of attainment for the three
situations. |
| 10
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Sakyamuni
Buddha's disciples |
Basically
historical disciples, whether Arahats or commoners. |
A
lot of Bodhisattvas are introduced by Sakyamuni Buddha.
Most of these are not historical figures. |
| 11 |
Rituals and liturgy |
There
are some rituals but not heavily emphasized as in Mahayana
schools. |
Owing
to local cultural influences, there is much more emphasis
on the use of rituals; e.g. Rituals for the deceased,
feeding of Petas, tantric formalities (in Vajrayana). |
| 12
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Use
of Mantras and Mudras |
Some
equivalent in the use of Parittas. |
Heavily
practised in the Vajrayana school of Mahayana Buddhism.
Other schools also have included some mantras in their
daily liturgy. |
| 13
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Dying
and death aspects |
Very
little research and knowledge on the process of dying
and death. Usually, the dying persons are advised to
meditate on impermanence, suffering and emptiness. |
The
Vajrayana school is particularly meticulous in these
areas. There are many inner and external signs manifested
by people before they die. There is heavy stress in
doing transference of merit practices in the immediate
few weeks following death to assist in the deceased's
next rebirth. |
| 14
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Bardo
|
This
in-between stage after death and before rebirth is
ignored in Theravada school.
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All
Mahayana schools teach this after death aspect. |
| 15 |
One meal a day practice |
This
the norm among the Theravada Sangha. |
This
is a highly respected practice but it is left to the
disposition of each individual in the various Sangha. |
| 16 |
Vegetarianism |
This
aspect is not necessary. In places like Thailand where
daily morning rounds are still practised, it is very
difficult to insist on the type of food to be donated |
Very
well observed in all Mahayana schools (except the Tibetans
due to the geographical circumstances). However, this
aspect is not compulsory. |
| 17
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Focus
of worship in the temple |
Simple
layout with the image of Sakyamuni Buddha the focus
of worship. |
Can
be quite elaborate; with a chamber/hall for Sakyamuni
Buddha and two disciples, one hall for the 3 Buddhas
(including Amitabha and Medicine Buddha) and one hall
for the 3 key Bodhisattvas; besides the protectors,
etc. |
| 18
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Schools/Sects
of the tradition |
One
surviving major school following years of attrition
reducing the number from as high as 18. |
8
major (Chinese) schools based on the partial doctrines
(sutras, sastras or vinaya) of the teachings. The four
schools inclined towards practices like Pure Land/Amitabha,
Ch'an, Vajrayana and Vinaya (not for lay people) are
more popular than the philosophy based schools like
Tien Tai, Avamtasaka, Yogacara and Madhyamika. |
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19
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Non
Buddhist influences |
Mainly
pre-Buddhism Indian/Brahmin influences. Many terms
like Karma, Sangha, etc were prevailing terms during
Sakyamuni Buddha's life time. References were made
from the Vedas and Upanishads.
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In
the course of integration and adoption by the people
in other civilizations, there were heavy mutual influences.
In China, both Confucianism and Taoism exerted some
influence on Buddhism which in turn had an impact on
the indigenous beliefs. This scenario was repeated in
Japan and Tibet. |
| 20
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Buddha
nature |
Absent
from the teachings of the Theravada tradition. |
Heavily
stressed, particularly by schools inclined practices. |
