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What is the difference between thervada buddhism and mahayana beliefs?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
The primary doctrinal belief that separates them is the Mahayana idea of Sunyata.
Sunyata tells us that, essentially, nothing exists; a piece of paper is the tree that it came from, not a piece of paper; the tree is not a tree but the sun, the soil and the rain etc.
Another major difference is the Theravada idea of Arhats and the Mahayana idea of Bodhisattva: Arhats being men who have achieved nirvana and will go on to achieve parinirvana; Bodhisattva are men or women who have reached enlightenment but upon death maintain their consciousness in Samsara until all other sentient beings have also reached nirvana.
Other things that separate Mahayana from Theravada: different precepts for monastics, a different Vinaya, Female Monastics (can be monks or nuns, nuns 'died' out in Theravada), Skillful speech (lying is okay for the right reasons) and different interpretation of the precepts: some Mahayana believe it is okay to like eat meat if they didn't kill it.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
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What is one of the main differences between the Mahayana and Theraveda branches of Buddhism?
it's different beliefs and religion
Why did the religion Mahayana separate from the original religion Buddhism?
Sexuality beliefs as well as the belief of what Guatama actually said. Similar to how the Catholics, and Christians diffused.
Do Mahayana trace their origin back to Abraham?
No, Mahayana does not trace its origin back to Abraham. Mahayana Buddhism originated in India around the 1st century CE, while Abraham is a figure in the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The two traditions are separate and distinct in terms of their teachings, beliefs, and historical development.
What are the two branches of Buddhism?
Theravada Buddhism focuses on the individual; Mahayana Buddhism focuses on society as a whole.
What do tibetan monks believe in?
they believe that whenever you die you achieve nirvana. Answer: Tibetan Buddhism is very similar in its beliefs to all other forms of Mahayana Buddhism (Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, deatha nd re-birth leading to eventual enlightenment) with the addition of esoteric beliefs and the admixture of original Tibetan native (eg Bon) traditions.
Difference between Mahayana Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism?
Buddhism encompasses several sects that hold a wide range of beliefs, with core Buddhist concepts. The Tibetan branch of Buddhism contains animistic and shamanistic elements. Tibetan Buddhists believe that when the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama die, they are re-incarnated in this world, for them to follow again. So, the present Dalai Lama is the re-incarnation of his predecessor.
How did Buddhism beliefs supports the castle system?
Buddhism does not believe in any difference between race, gender, age or caste. Therefore it did not and does not, support the caste system at all.
Is Theravada Buddhism different from Mahayana and Tibetan Buddhism?
Theravada is the only remaining school of Hinayana ('small vehicle') Buddhism which only follows the original Pali Canon of Buddhist teachings. These teachings are the closest we have to the actual words of the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. It is mostly practiced in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand and Laos.Mahayana ('big vehicle') Buddhism comprises several different traditions including Tibetan Buddhism Tibat, Nepal, Bhutan and India), Zen/Ch'an Buddhism (China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam) and Pure Land Buddhism (Japan). It follows both the Pali Canon of teachings and a number of other teachings that have arisen since which may or may not be attributed to the historical Buddha such as The Lotus Sutra, The Perfection of Wisdom Sutras (including The Heart Sutra and The Diamond Sutra), the Lankavatara Sutra and many others.Mahayana Buddhist teachings first arose in India in the first century AD and it is thought that these began in both monastic and lay settings. The main differences are twofold:1. Mahayana Buddhism rests on the idea of the bodhisattva who will not achieve enlightenment until ALL beings are enlightened. This is said to be in contrast to Hinayana/Theravada teachings which emphasise personal liberation.2. Mahayana Buddhism teaches the idea of inherent Buddha nature (tathāgatagarbha in Sanskrit) in which we are fundamentally pure from the beginning. In this it is also often taught that the historical Buddha was already enlightened when he was born and only manifested to teach the dharma (truth) to others.The teachings on sunyata ('emptiness') are also taught far more deeply in Mahayana Buddhism whereas Theravada Buddhism concentrates more on ethical behaviour. In Mahayana Buddhism it is perfectly allowable to break religious rules if the end result is beneficial (the notion of skillful means or upaya).Both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism do share the same basic beliefs of Buddhism such as the four noble truths and eightfold path set out by the Buddha himself and the aspiration to become free from suffering and help others. Mahayana Buddhism (of which Tibetan Buddhism is a part) currently forms the majority of Buddhist practice in the world although there are still strong areas of Theravadin practice in south Asia.
What are some shared beliefs betwenn Buddhism and Hinduism?
Some of the shared beliefs of Buddhism and Hinduism are rebirth and Karma
What is East Asia's major religion?
East Asia has no one dominant religion. Buddhism is certainly the most common religion, but since Buddhism lacks a strong orthopraxis and a strong orthodoxos, it can be mixed with local beliefs, such as Dao, Confucianism, Shinto, and Cao Dai. Additionally, many East Asians follow Christianity and Islam as informed by Buddhism. It is also worth noting that there are different general strains of Buddhism, like Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, and Zen Buddhism. It is not a monolithic religion any more than Christianity, Islam, or Hinduism.
What was Tendai Buddhism Beliefs?
They believe in the Lotus Sutra. They follow the beliefs of the Historic Buddha
What were China's religious beliefs?
Cofussionism & Buddhism
