Mahayana: Difference between revisions

Mahayana Buddhism is one of the two major divisions of Buddhism.

The word "Mahayana" means "Great Vehicle".

Mahayana represented a popularizing development from the earlier and more austere Theravada of Buddhism.

Mahayana is the characteristic Buddhism of China, Japan, and Korea. Zen and the Vajrayana or Tantrayana Buddhism of Tibet are usually included in the Mahayana.

Mahayana beliefs tend to be characterized by a greater acceptance of ideas about supernatural beings, realms, and powers, for example, a spectrum of Bodhisattvas, both human and godlike, who can assist believers. The large number of Bodhisattvas within Mahayana allows the religion to be extremely syncretic. For example, Taoism existed within China before the arrival of Buddhism, and metaphysically, there are important distinctions between the two. However, the structure of Mahayana Buddhism allows it to simply absorb Taoists deities as other bodhisattvas. Similarly, it is common for practictioners of Mahayana Buddhism to regard Confucius, Jesus Christ and Muhammed as simply other bodhisattvas allowing those religions to fit within the context of Buddhism.

Mahayana Buddhism, at its core, regards such ideas as artful means of bringing people closer to enlightenment. Bodhisattvas are the ultimate practioners of this approach. Although unenlightened by refusing Nirvana, they remain in the physical plane - the realm of illusion (Maya). Their purpose is to guide other beings on their path to enlightenment.

As an example, it is unlikely that a drunkard will, without assistance, achieve enlightenment. A Bodhisattva may appear to such a person as a fellow drunkard. Over time, the Bodhisattva will guide that person to a path that will lead them closer to Nirvana - often without the beneficiary ever realizing what has happened or why.

Mahayana Buddhism is characterized by a tradition of statue representations of Buddhas. This tradition as an offshoot of the Greek statues which was carried into central Asia by Alexander the Great. Early representions of Buddhas are known as Greco-Buddhist statues and are clearly modelled after Greek statues. This tradition was later carried east into China and Japan.