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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 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 3 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 one-self 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 and 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. |
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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. |
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11
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Rituals and liturgy |
There
are some rituals but not heavily emphasized as in Mahayana
schools. |
Owing
to local cultural influences, there is much more emphais on
the use of rituals; e.g. Rituals for the deceased, feeding
of Petas, tantric formalities (in Vajrayana). |
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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 lithurgy. |
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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. |
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14
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Bardo
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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. |
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15
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One meal a day practice |
This
the norm among Theravada sanghas. |
This
is a highly respected practice but it is left to the disposition
of each individual in the various sanghas. |
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16
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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. |
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17
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Focus
of worship in the temple |
Simple
layout with the image of Sakyamuni Buddha the focus of worship.
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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. |
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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. |
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20
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Buddha
nature |
Absent from the teachings of Theravada tradition. |
Heavily stressed, particularly by schools inclined practices. |
