The Spread of Buddhism

Theravada School

Mahayana School

After the Buddha – The Sangha

Sangha: Small community of monks established at the first sermon in the Deer Park

Monks wandered – spreading the word of Buddhism across India

Councils met to discuss sutras. Council meeting in 383BC resulted in a division

1. Sthaviradada: argued to keep the sutras unchanged2. Mahasanghika: argued for a more literature to be included

in the sutra

Resulted in 2 branches: Theravada SchoolMahayana School

Branches of Buddhism

Theravada School Little Vehicle Way of the

Elders Conservative

Mahayana School Northern School The Greater

Vehicle More liberal

TEXTBOOK MAPPING EXERCISE: Page 194

Spread of Buddhism

Comparison

Theravada Mahayana

Beliefs Humans are individualskey virtue –wisdomMonksArhatBuddha the saint

Humans are involved with otherskey virtue – compassionMonk and laypersonBodhisattvaBuddha the saviour

Practices Pray through meditation

Pray for requests (varies)

Scripture Early scriptures

Pali

Early scriptures plus others sutras

Comparison continued

Theravada Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism Moved primarily South and West covering Indochina and Ceylon (Sri-Lanka).

Moved Primarily North and West, covering China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet

Followed as a teaching or Philosophy.

Followed with reference to higher beings, more like a religion.

Intense, dedicated and time-consuming effort required to attain enlightenment.

Enlightenment is achieved through a normal life with varying degrees of spiritual involvement.

Agreements

The Buddha is the only master One must take refuge in the Buddha, dharma

and Sangha This world was not created and ruled by a

god One must follow the example of the Buddha One must accept the Four Noble Truths All things are impermanent