Sr No
|
TOPIC
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THERAVADA BUDDHISM
|
MAHAYANA BUDDHISM
|
1
|
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.
|
2
|
Bodhisattvas
|
Only Maitreya bodhisattva is accepted.
|
Avalokitesvara, Mansjuri, Ksitigarbhaand Samanthabadra
are four very well known bodhisattvas besides Maitreya.
|
3
|
Objective of training
|
Arahant or pacceka-buddha.
|
Buddhahood (via bodhisattva path).
|
4
|
Organisation of Buddhist scriptures
|
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.
|
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.
|
5
|
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.
|
6
|
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.
|
7
|
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.
|
8
|
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.
|
9
|
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.
|
10
|
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.
|
11
|
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).
|
12
|
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.
|
13
|
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.
|
14
|
Bardo
|
This in-between stage after death and before
rebirth is ignored in Theravada school.
|
All Mahayana schools teach this after death
aspect.
|
15
|
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.
|
16
|
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.
|
17
|
Focus of worship in the temple
|
Simple layout with the image of Sakyamuni Buddha
the focus of worship.
|
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.
|
18
|
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.
|
19
|
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.
|
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.
|
20
|
Buddha nature
|
Absent from the teachings of Theravada tradition.
|
Heavily stressed, particularly by schools
inclined practices.
|
