Distinguishing Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism

This division is not due to conflicts in organization, interests, or status, but due to differences in views on doctrine and precepts.

Theravada Buddhism

The Hinayana school (Hyayana) means “small path of salvation” or “small vehicle”, and advocates that only those who have left home to practice Buddhism can be saved. This school believes that Hinayana followers must self-enlighten and liberate themselves, and cannot liberate others.

According to the Hinayana sect, only Shakyamuni is the only Buddha.

The Hinayana believes that samsara and nirvana are two different categories. Only when people escape from the cycle of samsara can they reach nirvana. Nirvana is nothingness, a place of enlightenment, where there is no more suffering. Buddha was the first person to reach nirvana.

Theravada Buddhism maintains strict adherence to the canonical teachings, adhering to the original Buddhist tenets. According to Hinayana followers, this sect represents the pure and original doctrine as preached by the Buddha. Its concepts are mainly based on the sutras recording the teachings of the Buddha, and its rules of discipline are based on the Vinaya.

The Hinayana sect was spread to many places, from Sri Lanka to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam... The development process of the Hinayana sect was also divided into many branches, typically the Satyasiddhi sect, the Vinaya sect, the Abhidharma sect...

Mahayana Buddhism

Mahayana means “the great path of salvation”, “the great vehicle” and is known as a reformed religion. Mahayana teachings have many new things compared to original Buddhism. This sect believes that not only monks and nuns but also Buddhists are saved.

Therefore, the Mahayana Buddhists advocate not only liberation and enlightenment for themselves but also the ability to help many others to be liberated and enlightened. Mahayana advocates that each person can reach Nirvana through his own efforts, and at the same time advocates the liberation of many people.

The library of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy is equipped with many books on Buddhist scriptures and doctrines. The monks and nuns studying there have to study many documents written in Sanskrit, ancient Chinese, etc. Photo: Documentary

With that concept, Mahayana temples worship many Buddha statues. Bodhisattvas are also objects of worship. Bodhisattvas are those who have achieved perfection through cultivation, deserve to go to Nirvana but voluntarily stay on earth to save sentient beings. Among them, Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara is the most respected.

Mahayana Buddhism believes that samsara and nirvana are not two different categories, and that nirvana can be attained even in the process of existence (the process of birth and death). According to Mahayana, nirvana is a place of bliss, the world of Buddhas, similar to the paradise of other religions.

More than 100 Buddhists made a pilgrimage from Vinh City and neighboring areas to Tu Hieu Pagoda. Photo: Duc Anh

With its innovative viewpoint, Mahayana Buddhism was spread to many places in the world, first of all to Asian countries. From India, it was transmitted to Tibet, then to China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam... During that process, the Mahayana sect also divided into many branches, typically the Dharma-like sect, the Three Treatises sect, the Avatamsaka sect, the Esoteric sect, the Pure Land sect, and the Zen sect.

In Vietnam - one of the early development centers of Buddhism in the world, witnessed the development of both Theravada and Mahayana schools. With the humanistic ideology, "compassion, joy, equanimity", equality among living beings, advising people to do good deeds, avoid evil... Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism quickly entered people's hearts, received the sympathy and response of the masses and were closely associated with each stage of development of the country and nation.