# TOPIC BUDDHISM Only the historical Gautama Besides Sakyamuni Buddha, other contemporary 1 The Buddha (Sakyamuni) Buddha and past buddhas buddhas like Amitabha and Medicine Buddha are also are accepted. very popular. Avalokitesvara, Mansjuri, Ksitigarbha and 2 Only is accepted. Samanthabadra are four very well known bodhisattvas besides Maitreya. 3 Objective of training Arahant or pacceka-buddha. (via bodhisattva path).

The Mahayana Buddhist Canon also consists of The Canon is divided into 3 baskets Tripitaka of disciplines, discourses () and (Tipitaka): Pitaka of 5 books, Organization of analysis. It is usually organized in 12 divisions 4 Sutta Pitaka of 5 collections (many Buddhist scriptures of topics like Cause and Conditions and Verses. It suttas) and Abhidhamma Pitaka of 7 contains virtually all the Theravada Tipikata and many books. sutras that the latter does not have.

Main emphasis is self-liberation. Besides self-liberation, it is important for Mahayana 5 Concept of There is total reliance on one-self to followers to help other sentient beings. eradicate all defilements. Very limited emphasis on the 3 bodies o f Very well mentioned in Mahayana Buddhism. 6 Trikaya concept a Buddha. References are mainly on Samboga-kaya or reward/enjoyment body completes nirmana-kaya and dharma-kaya. the Trikaya concept. Southern transmission: Sri Lanka, Northern transmission: Tibet, China, Taiwan, Japan, 7 Transmission route Thailand, Burma, Laos and Cambodia Korea, Mongolia and parts of Southeast Asia. and parts of Southeast Asia. Buddhist canon is translated into the local language Tipitaka is strictly in Pali. Dharma Language of dharma (except for the 5 untranslatable), e.g. Tibetan, Chinese 8 teaching in Pali supplemented by local teaching and Japanese. Original language of transmission is language. . No distinction is made between Also known as 'liberation from Samsara,' there are Nirvana 9 attained by a Buddha and that of an subtle distinctions in the level of attainment for the (Nibbana in Pali) Arahat or pacceka Buddha. three situations. Sakyamuni Buddha's Basically historical disciples, whether A lot of bodhisattvas are introduced by Sakyamuni 10 disciples arahats or commoners. Buddha. Most of these are not historical figures. Owing to local cultural influences, there is much more There are some rituals but not heavily emphasis on the use of rituals; e.g. Rituals for the 11 Rituals and liturgy emphasized as in Mahayana schools. deceased, feeding of Petas, tantric formalities (in ). Heavily practiced in the Vajrayana school of Use of and 12 Some equivalent in the use of . Mahayana Buddhism. Other schools also have included some mantras in their daily liturgy. The Vajrayana school is particularly meticulous in Very little research and knowledge on these areas. There are many inner and external signs the process of dying and death. Usually, Dying and death manifested by people before they die. There is heavy 13 the dying persons are advised to aspects stress in doing transference of practices in the meditate on , suffering immediate few weeks following death to assist in the and emptiness. deceased's next . This in-between stage after death and 14 before rebirth is ignored in Theravada All Mahayana schools teach this after death aspect. school. One meal a day This is a highly respected practice but it is left to the 15 This norm among Theravada . practice disposition of each individual in the various sanghas. This aspect is not necessary. In places like Thailand where daily morning Very well observed in all Mahayana schools (except 16 Vegetarianism rounds are still practiced, it is very the Tibetans due to the geographical circumstances). difficult to insist on the type of food to However, this aspect is not compulsory. be donated Can be quite elaborate; with a chamber/hall for Simple layout with the image of Sakyamuni Buddha and two disciples, one hall for the Focus of worship in 17 Sakyamuni Buddha the focus of 3 Buddhas (including Amitabha and Medicine the temple worship. Buddha) and one hall for the 3 key bodhisattvas; besides the protectors, etc. 8 major (Chinese) schools based on the partial doctrines (sutras, sastras or vinaya) of the teachings. One surviving major school following The four schools inclined towards practices like Pure Schools/Sects of the 18 years of attrition reducing the number Land/Amitabha, Ch'an, Vajrayana and Vinaya (not for tradition from as high as 18. lay people) are more popular than the philosophy based schools like Tien Tai, Avamtasaka, Yogacara and Madhyamika. Mainly pre-Buddhism Indian/Brahmin In the course of integration and adoption by the people influences. Many terms like karma, in other civilizations, there were heavy mutual Non Buddhist , etc. were prevailing terms influences. In China, both Confucianism and Taoism 19 influences during Sakyamuni Buddha's life time. exerted some influence on Buddhism which in turn References were made from the Vedas had an impact on the indigenous beliefs. This scenario and Upanishads. was repeated in Japan and Tibet.

20 Buddha nature Absent from the teachings of Theravada Heavily stressed, particularly by schools inclined tradition. practices.

[Compiled by Tan Swee Eng] Courtesy Buddhanet

Theravada vs. Mahayana Buddhism

Theravada Mahayana

Northern (Tibet, China, Southern (Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Location Cambodia, parts of Southeast Asia) Mongolia, parts of Southeast Asia )

One surviving school (as many as 18 existed at one time) 8 major schools: four practice- Schools and based (, , Vajrayana, Vinaya); Sects four philosophy-based (, Avamtasaka, Yogacara and Madhyamika)

Books of the Theravada Buddhist Pali Canon/Tripitaka only Tripitaka plus many other Scriptures sutras (e.g. Lotus )

Gautama Buddha plus Historical Buddha (Gautama) and past Buddhas Amitabha, Medicine Buddhas only Buddhas, and others

Maitreya plus Avalokitesvara, Bodhisattvas Maitreya only Mansjuri, Ksitigarbha and Samanthabadra

Goal of Buddhahood via bodhisattva- Training path

3 Buddha Emphasized, including the Very limited emphasis; mainly on nirmana- Bodies samboga-kaya or kaya and dharma-kaya (Trikaya) reward/enjoyment body

Original Pali Sanskrit Language

Language of Tripitaka is only in Pali. Teaching in Pali Scriptures translated into Transmission supplemented by local language. local language.

Buddha's Many bodhisattvas that are Historical disciples described in Scriptures Disciples not historical figures

Emphasized in Vajrayana; Mantras and Some equivalent in the use of Parittas sometimes incorporated in Mudras other schools Bardo (Limbo) Rejected Taught by all schools

Heavily influenced by local Non-Buddhist Mainly pre-Buddhist Indian influences like religious ideas as transmitted Influences concepts of karma, sangha, etc. to new cultures (China, Japan, Tibet).

Emphasized, especially in Buddha Nature Not taught practice-based schools

Many, owing to local cultural Rituals Very few; not emphasized influences Courtesy ReligionFacts