INDIA
MAHAYANA BUDDHISM
Believing itself as the more genuine version of
Buddha’s teachings.
Also known as the “Great Vehicle,”
With its openness to more traditional religious views, it
has developed a wide appeal to common people and
gained tremendous ground in becoming one of the most
successful missionary religions in the world.
Mahayana Buddhism is widespread in China,
Mongolia, Korea, Japan, and Tibet.
During the third century B.C.E., a number of subtle
variations began to take place in Buddhism at a time
when the Mauryan king Ashoka was propagating
Buddhist gospels through missionary efforts.
Mahasamghika (“of the Great Sangha”), one of
the early Buddhist schools, may have been the source
for the initial growth of Mahayana Buddhism,
especially during the “Second Buddhist Council” that
occurred a hundred years after Buddha’s parinirvana.
Considered a historical event, a religious schism
between the Mahasamghika and Sthavira nikaya
(“Sect of the Elders”), another major Buddhist
school, transpired during the said council. These
new ideas eventually concretized resulting in a new
form of Buddhism quite different from the original
teachings taught by Siddhartha Gautama and to
those accepted by Theravada Buddhists. In short,
Mahayana Buddhism practically became a new
religion
Set of differing notions:
Firstly, Mahayana Buddhists believed that
Siddhartha secretly taught key principles to chosen
people, to his most dedicated disciples, or to the most
faithful who could completely interpret these
teachings in time.
Set of differing notions:
Secondly, Mahayana Buddhists forwarded the
concept that Siddhartha Gautama was actually a
benevolent celestial being, not just a mere human
being. Because of his love for humankind and zeal to
help the people, he came to our world in human form.
Set of differing notions:
Thirdly, Mahayana Buddhists advanced the radical
idea that Siddhartha Gautama was not the only
Buddha. There were other divine beings that came to
our world even before Siddhartha, some of them
came after him, and still others will come in the
future.
Mahayana Buddhism has 2184 Sutras (sacred texts). The most popular
Mahayana Sutras is the Lotus Sutra.
Lotus Sutra- widely regarded as one of the
most important and influential sutras, or sacred
scriptures, of Buddhism.
- The sutra’s key message is that Buddhahood,
the supreme state of life characterized by
boundless compassion, wisdom and courage, is
inherent within every person without distinction
of gender, ethnicity, social standing or
intellectual ability.
Lotus Sutra
-Buddhahood is not an escape from these
challenges but an inexhaustible source of
positive energy to grapple with and transform the
sufferings and contradictions of life and create
happiness.
- Ultimately a teaching of empowerment. It
“teaches us that the inner determination of an
individual can transform everything; it gives
ultimate expression to the infinite potential and
dignity inherent in each human life.
Bodhisattvas
an enlightened being (“enlightened existence”)
which is the ultimate way for any Buddhist to live
in this world.
Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have
put off entering paradise in order to help others
attain enlightenment.
Renouncing their own salvation and immediate
entrance into nirvana, they devote all their power
and energy to saving suffering beings in this world.
Bodhicitta- the spontaneous desire to achieve
the state of being enlightened.
Bhumis and Paramitas
Based on the Mahayana tradition, a bodhisattva must
pass 10 Bhumis (“grounds” or “land”) before attaining
the so-called “Buddha-hood.”
Buddahood - means enlightenment, enlightened to
the true nature and potential of life.
These are extensions of the “Eightfold Path”.
Paramitas (“perfections”). Translated as “to cross
over the other shore,” paramitas imply crossing from the
“sea of suffering” to the “shore of happiness.” One is
lifted from the cycle of rebirth to finally achieve
liberation. While the first five paramitas are principally
concerned with the accumulation of merits, the sixth
paramita involves the attainment of wisdom.
