The Different Sects
of Buddhism
ANDREW CRANE
Theravada
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Means the School of the Elders
Is found in Southern Asia areas like Cambodia, Loas, and Thailand.
Is the oldest line of decent of Buddhism, and tries to maintain the
original teachings.
The teachings are preserved in the Pali Canon, the record of the
Buddha's words over forty-five years of teaching, and in the living
transmission of teacher to student, represented by the Order of Bhikkhus
(one of the oldest institutions on this planet.)
They focus on the three jewels, Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha.
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These are simple principles of life which Buddhist must live.
The goal of the Theravada sect is to become a arhat, which is a perfect
saint that has achieved nirvana.
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Thus the Theravada sect of Buddhism is strict compared to the other groups.
Becoming An Arhat
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There Are 4 Stages
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Sotapanna
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Sakadagamin
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One who will be reborn once more.
Anagamin
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Someone who converts to Buddhism and overcomes life's false beliefs.
One who will be reborn to heaven.
Arhat
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One who will never be born again.
Mahayana Buddhism
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Also Known as the Great Vehicle
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subdivided into several diverse schools, such as Zen, Pure Land and Nichiren,
many of which flourish today in East Asia
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All of these promote different ways in which the goal of life can be obtained, but
agree on one common thing and that is that it can be obtained in a single lifetime by
anyone.
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Is considered a More Liberal form of Buddhism, because it is available to all
walks of life not just monks and ascetics.
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The goal of Mahayana Buddhists is to become a boddhisatvas, a saint who has
become enlightened but who unselfishly delay nirvana to help others attain it as
well.
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It often using the reverse form of spiritual beings, example being buddhas,
ceremonies, religious rituals, magical rites, and the use of icons, images, and
other sacred objects.
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Is the primary form of Buddhism in China, Japan, Tibet, and Mongolia.
Vajrayana
Also Known as Diamond Vehicle
 This is the Tibetan Buddhism
 The unique thing about this sect of Buddhism are its system of
reincarnating lamas and the vast number of deities in its pantheon.
 Tibetan Buddhism is vast in its practices, and has many unique
traditions.
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This Sect has four major schools
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For example chanting mantras and meditation.
Nyingmapa ("School of the Ancients"), Kagyüpa ("Oral Transmission School“),
Sakyapa (“Grey Earth), and Gelugpa ("School of the Virtuous")
An very important part of Vajrayana and associates it to modern
culture is the Dali Lama. The Dali Lama is the head of the most
dominant school in Buddhism being the Gelugpa giving him the
greatest influence.
How and When They Formed
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Therevada formed during the 4th century BCE out of divisions and disunions
within the Buddhist communities of India, and made its way south developing as
its own denomination of Buddhism in areas of Southern Asia like Cambodia,
Laos, and Thailand.
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Mahayana was created during the first century CE as a more liberal form of
Buddhism. It was considered more accessible for the average people of
Northern Asia and the Far East. The development of the Mahayana sect
emerged as a movement to bring Buddhism to the common people of Asia,
because in the Theravada sect only the enlightened men were truly able to
participate in the religion. They were the only ones who were able to obtain
nirvana, and if you were not enlightened then Buddhism had very little to offer
you. The Mahayana split from the Theravada in the first century and rapidly
gained popularity, because of its attraction to the common man and woman.
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The Vajrayana sect of Buddhism emerged out of the teachings of the
Mahayana in India in 6th and 7th centuries CE and quickly spread out to Tibet.
Vajrayana originally formed as a reaction to the philosophical and scholastic
teachings of Indian Buddhism, and rapidly developed into a complex
philosophical and ritual system
Sources
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http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/sects.htm
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http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/5minbud.htm
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http://www.patheos.com/Library/Vajrayana-Buddhism.html
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http://www.religioustolerance.org/budd_mah.htm