Buddhist Schools

From the Lesson

When the Buddha died around 483 BCE, he left no designated successor. His final instructions: "Be lamps unto yourselves. Work out your own salvation with diligence." Over the following centuries, as his teaching spread across Asia, it developed into diverse schools and traditions, each emphasizing different aspects of the path while sharing the core commitment to awakening from suffering.

Today, three major vehicles (yana) carry Buddhist teaching: Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. Each contains multiple schools and sub-traditions. Understanding their differences and commonalities illuminates both the richness of Buddhist tradition and the universal human quest for liberation.

The Historical Development

In the centuries after the Buddha's death, the sangha (community) held several councils to preserve and codify the teaching. Differences in interpretation led to the emergence of numerous nikaya (schools), traditionally numbered at eighteen.

Around the 1st century BCE to 1st century CE, new sutras began appearing that claimed to represent the Buddha's hidden or advanced teaching. These Mahayana scriptures—including the Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom) sutras, Lotus Sutra, and many others—emphasized the bodhisattva ideal: awakening not just for oneself but for all beings.

Those who embraced these sutras called their path the "Great Vehicle" (Mahayana) and, somewhat pejoratively, labeled the earlier schools the "Lesser Vehicle" (Hinayana). The surviving early school, Theravada, continues to reject this characterization.

Later still, Tantric Buddhism (Vajrayana) emerged, incorporating ritual, deity visualization, mantra, and energy practices to accelerate awakening. Vajrayana considers itself the third turning of the wheel, building upon both early teaching and Mahayana philosophy.

Theravada Buddhism

"The Way of the Elders"—Theravada is the dominant form in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. It claims direct lineage from the earliest Buddhist community and uses the Pali Canon as its authoritative scripture.

Key Characteristics:

- Arhat Ideal: The goal is individual liberation (nibbana) through becoming an arhat—one who has extinguished the fires of greed, hatred, and delusion - Emphasis on Monasticism: The sangha (monastic community) is the primary vehicle for preserving and transmitting teaching - Pali Canon: The Tipitaka (Three Baskets) contains the Buddha's discourses, monastic rules, and philosophical analysis - Insight Meditation (Vipassana): The core practice, investigating the three characteristics of impermanence, suffering, and non-self - Dana (Generosity): Laypeople support monks materially and receive merit and teaching in return

Major Practices: - Satipatthana: Four foundations of mindfulness - Anapanasati: Mindfulness of breathing - Metta Bhavana: Loving-kindness meditation - Walking Meditation: Mindful walking practice

Influential Teachers: Mahasi Sayadaw (Burma), Ajahn Chah (Thailand), S.N. Goenka (India/Burma)

Mahayana Buddhism

"The Great Vehicle"—Mahayana dominates in China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Taiwan. It encompasses multiple schools, each with distinct emphases.

Key Characteristics:

- Bodhisattva Ideal: The goal is Buddhahood for the benefit of all beings. The bodhisattva vows to postpone final liberation until all beings are awakened. - Sunyata (Emptiness): Central philosophical teaching that all phenomena lack inherent, independent existence - Buddha-Nature: All beings possess the potential for Buddhahood; enlightenment is not gained but recognized - Upaya (Skillful Means): The Buddha adapts teaching to suit different capacities; many paths are valid - Vast Cosmology: Multiple Buddhas and bodhisattvas across multiple realms offer assistance

Major Schools:

Pure Land Buddhism: Devotional practice centered on Amitabha Buddha, whose Pure Land (Sukhavati) is accessible through faith and calling upon his name. Practitioners chant "Namu Amida Butsu" (Japanese) or "Namo Amituofo" (Chinese), trusting in Amitabha's compassionate vow to save all who call upon him.

Dominant form in East Asia, emphasizing reliance on "Other-Power" (tariki) rather than self-effort.

Chan/Zen Buddhism: Direct pointing at mind-nature through meditation and koan practice. Emerged in China from the fusion of Mahayana teaching and Taoism, later transmitted to Korea (Seon), Japan (Zen), and Vietnam (Thien).

Emphasizes sudden awakening (satori), everyday life as practice, and the teacher-student relationship.

Tiantai/Tendai: Comprehensive system based on the Lotus Sutra, teaching that all Buddhist vehicles are expedient means leading to the one Buddha vehicle. Developed sophisticated doctrine of the "threefold truth" (emptiness, conventional existence, and the middle).