MAHAYANA

BUDDHISM
World Religion
 Introduction
Also known as "Great Vehicle" believing itself as the more genuine version
of Buddhas teaching. Two major Buddhist schools of Mahayana and
Theravada originated in the foundational teachings of Siddharta Gautama,
their methods and search for liberation can be very different. Mahayana
Buddhism is widespread in China, Mongolia, Korea, Japan, and Tibet with its
openness to more traditional religious views, it has developed a wide
appeal to common people and gained tremendous ground.
Historical
background
During the 3rd century of B.C.E, a number of subtle
variations began to take place in buddhism at a time when
the Mauryan King Ashoka, was propagating buddhism
gospels through missionaries efforts (Hopfe 1963). The
Mahamsamghika "Of the Great Sangha", one of the early
buddhist schools, may have been the source for the initial
growth of Mahayana Buddhism, especially during the
"Second Buddhist Council" that occured that occured a
hudred years after Buddha's pirinirvana. Considered a
historical vent, a religious schism between the
Mahamsamhika and Sthavira Nikaya, ("Sec of the Elders"),
another major buddhist school, transpired during the said
council. In short, Mahayana buddhism practically became
a new religion.
Historical Background
 . Sacred Scriptures
While the Mahayana branch accepts the canonical texts of the Theravada school,
such as the Tripitaka (Sanskrit word for “Three Baskets”) which is the collection of
Buddha’s teachings, it also has a wide array of philosophical and devotional texts,
especially since Mahayana Buddhism initially became more receptive to change and
to subsequent innovationseven from indigenous culture. Mahayana Buddhism
includes many sacred writings which are nearly identical in content with the Pali
Canon of the Theravada sect. The canon of Mahayana Buddhism also consists of the
Tripitaka, namely, Sutra Pitaka (Discourse), Vinaya Pitaka (Discipline), and
Abhidharma Pitaka (Ultimate Doctrine). Meanwhile, Mahayana Buddhists have
teachings or sutras not present in the Theravada school and the followers believed
they have recovered the original teachings of the Buddha. In fact, principal scriptures
of the Mahayana sect have no parallels in the Pali Canon (Jurji 1946).
Three Baskets of Wisdom
Tripitaka = Three Baskets

Sutta
Vinaya Abhidharma
 . Sacred Scriptures
As the original language of transmission, Mahayana Buddhism adopted the
Sanskrit rather than the Pali form of common terms strictly used in Theravada
Buddhism, such as sutra (or sutta in Pali) and dharma (ordhamma in Pali).
Buddhist texts were also translated in the localvernacular. The Mahayana
school possesses in numerable figures often lacking in the Theravada
literature, including the bodhisattvas, demons, divinities, and other spirits. One
of the most popular and prominent Mahayana Buddhist texts (or sutra) is the
Lotus Sutra, or the Saddharmapundarika-sutra that literally means "correct
dharma white lotus sutra" or “Sutra of the Lotus of the Wonderful Law” in
Sanskrit. A sutra pertains to one of the discourses of the historical Buddha that
comprise the basic text of Buddhist sacred writing.
 . Sacred Scriptures
The teachings of Siddhartha Gautama are generally recorded in a wide corpus of
sutras and often taking the form of dialogues insteadof analytically explicating a
certain viewpoint. Siddhartha sought toprovide answers even to the most basic
questions concerning human existence. The Lotus Sutra is presented as a discourse
conveyed by Siddhartha Gautama before his eventual death. Mahayana
traditionmaintains that while thesutras were recorded during Siddhartha
Gautama’s lifetime, these sutras were kept for 500 years and reintroduced
onlyduring the “Fourth Buddhist Council” in Kashmir in 78 C.E. While these sutras
were assembled years after the death of Siddhartha Gautama, the Lotus Sutra may
have been authored by more than one writer and compiled between the first and
second century C.E. In fact, the oldest portion of the Lotus Sutra may have been
written between 100B.C.E. and 100 C.E.
 Worship and Observances
Buddhism integrates an assortment of religious practices and
devotional rituals with the objective of aiding worshippers in their
journey toward enlighten- ment and in bringing blessings to each and
every one. In Buddhist temples, they pray and chant to pay their respect
to the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, such as Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri,
and Amitabha. They also offer vegetarian food and light incense to pay
homage to these important divine beings. Mahayana temples are
sacred spaces. While only a simple temple layout can be seen in
Theravada Buddhism with an image of Siddhartha Gautama as the
focal point of worship, Mahayana rituals can be quite elabo- rate with
the addition of other disciples of Siddhartha Gautama and important
bodhisattvas.
 Worship and Observances
Worshippers also recite chants and undertake pilgrimages to sites
of Buddhist importance. Meditational activities are fundamental in
almost all popular forms of Buddhism. For Theravada Buddhism
and Zen Buddhism, the practice of meditation is the only means to
attain liberation. With the introduction of Mahayana Buddhism in
other places, local culture influenced the development of
Mahayana Buddhist practices. The lotus that symbolizes purity, the
eight-spoke wheels that represent the dharma, and the different
hand gestures (mudras) are important symbols for Mahayana
Buddhism.
Beliefs and Doctrines
The Buddha
The concept of trikaya "(three
bodies)" of buddha pertains to the
teachings of Mahayana Buddhism
about nature of the buddha and
reality. This doctrine is very well
mentioned in Mahayana
Buddhism which state the 3
bodies namely, DHARMAKAYA,
SAMBHOGAKAYA, and
NIRMANAKAYA.
 Beliefs and Doctrines
Bodhisattvas
One distinct feature of Mahayana Buddhism concerns its

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teaching about an enlightened being or bodhisattva
("enlightened existence") which is the ultimate way for any
Buddhist to live in this world. A bodhisattva has gener- ated
bodhicitta or the spoutaneous desire to achieve the state of
being enlightened. The concept of bodhicitta greatly differs
between the two main schools of Buddhism. The teachings of
Theravada place a great emphasis on self-liberation where
there is a total reliance on one's self to eradicate sufferings.
On the other hand, apart from self-liberation, it is also
essential for Mahayana adherents to assist other sentient
beings in their quest for liberation. The attainment of nirvana
is not confined to one's self as an arhat ("perfected one") but Maitreya (Buddha of the Future)
must be shared to all striving beings.
 Beliefs and Doctrines
Bhumis & Paramita
Based on the Mahayana tradition, a bodhisattva must pass 10 bhumis

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("grounds" of "land") before attaining the so-called "Buddha-hood." The
bhumis are frequently associated with the paramitas ("perfections").
Translated as "to cross over the other shore, paramitas imply crossing from
the "sea of suffering" to the shore of happiness." One is lifted from the cycle
of rebirth to finally achieve liberation. While the first five perumites are
principally concerned with the accumulation of merits, the sixth paramita
involves the attainment of wisdom.

A boddhisattva vow is stated as "May I attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all
sentient beings."
Beliefs and Doctrines
The 6 Paramitas
Dana Paramita = Perfection of Generosity
Sila Paramita = Perfection of Discipline/Morality
Ksanti Paramita = Perfection of Patience
Virya Paramita = Perfection of Diligence/Energy
Dhyana Paramita = Perfection of Meditation/Concentration
Prajna Paramita = Perfection of Wisdom
 Subdivisions
Mahayana Buddhism consists of a variety of schools and family of religions.
When the teachings of Mahayana Buddhism spread in many Asian nations. it
acquired new concepts from these localities that found articulation in many
ritualistic practices and divine figures.

The more philosophical side of Indian Mahayana Buddhism was developed

within the context of the two major schools, namely, the Madhyamika and the
Yogachara (Adams 1965). The first school to emerge is the Madhyamika
("Intermediate") whose adherents stress the transformation of human
perception to handle the truth of that which is ultimately real beyond any duality.
On the other hand, Yogachara ("Practice of Yoga") thinkers emphasize that the
truth a human being perceives does not exist.
Pure Land Sect
Pure Land Buddhism began in India around the second century BCE, spread
to China by the second evntury CE, and reached Japan around sixth century
CE. When believers die, it is their objective to live in the "Pure- Land of the
West" or Subhavati By simply reciting the name of the Amitabhin with utmost
attentiveness many times during the day, they may be reborn in this
paradise where they can work to achieve enlightenment much easier.
Amilable, the god who supervises over a western paradise, is the focus of this
sect. Once in Sukliarati, people can experience the delight in hearing
Amitabha teach the dharma in preparation for their entry to nirmana. Aside
from meditations, this Buddhist sect utilizes chants and recitations to focus
on helpful thoughts (Losch 2001).
The Intuitive Sect
The establishment of intuitive of buddhism can be traced around sixth
century C.E to the work on an Indian monk named bodhidharma
whose life stories are shrouded with mysteries and numerous legends
(Murphy 1949)This concept entered china from india,and then carried
onward to korea and japan. In china ,it came to be known as Ch'an
.Ch'an Buddhism has close affinity with Taoist philosophy because
both are kinds of mysticism (Jurji 1946). In japan it reached its peak
with the development of zen which is a blend of indian mahayana
buddhism and daoism followers of this school are called meditative
buddhists.focusing on meditation as the path to liberation ,Zen
buddhism is basically a monastic discipline (Losch 2001)The word for
"meditation "in india is dhyana,Ch'an in china and zen in japan
The Intuitive Sect
The intuitive sects emphasize that salvation is a personal matter
and one cannot receive assistance from other entities such as
another person or institution ,to realize the inner thruths of
religion in short most elements of religion from
scriptures,temples ,statues,prayers,and rituals are not essential
to achieve enlightenment ,And individual maybe spiritually
enlightened by a sudden spark of insight ,either through
meditation or even by accident beyond words or thoughts
Modern European thinkers have been attracted to Zen Buddhism
because of its concept on simplicity and intuitive inspiration
(Brown 1975).
The Rationalist Sect
A rationalist Buddhist school of thought called t'en-tai
emerged around the sixth century C.E with it's name
originating from a mountain in south eastern china.

Chih-I emphasized that acts of studying, and

contemplation were both vital for spiritual enlightenment

Apart from instructions on the scriptures and silent

meditation other means to reach this goal include mystical
communion with the eternal ascetic discipline meritorious
deeds, and simple faith in the mercy of the buddha.
The Socio-Political Sect
Nichiren Daishonin, a Japanese Buddhist monk of the Kamakurs era in the 13th century, taught
that the Lotus Sutra was the only road to nirvana. Nichiren ("sun lotus") Buddhists see
themselves as the only genuine kind of Buddhism.

Nichiren Buddhism believes that individuals must take responsibility to change themselves, or
"human revolution," and, in turn, to improve the world's lot. Enlightenment is attainable to every
individual on earth by opening one's innate Buddha-nature in this world.

Nichiren believed that other Buddhist sects in Japan were corrupting the people towards hell.
As he was living in a degraded stage, Japanese society was also in disarray. For his missionary
work and excessive criticism of rival Buddhist sects, he made many influential enemies.

The Nichiren sect of Buddhism is an example of a religious organization that influenced

Japan's politics (Hopfe 1983).
 Tibetan Buddhism
the religion of Tibet, a form of Mahayana
Buddhism. It was formed in the 8th century
from a combination of Buddhism and the
indigenous Tibetan religion. The head of the
religion is the Dalai Lama.
 Tibetan Buddhism
Buddhism was officially introduced into Tibet around the
seventh-century C.E during the reign of Songtsan Gampo,
considered the founder of the Tibetan Empire. He was
influenced by his Chinese and Indian wives who were both
Buddhist followers. Buddhism became a dominant force in
the region toward the end of the eighth century C.E. when
king Trisong Detsen decreed it as the official state religion.
Tibetan Buddhism
While the theological foundation of Tibetan
Buddhism is similar to the Mahayana
Buddhism, the isolation of the region allowed
for the development of many features that
were incorporated into the growing Buddhist
school in Tibetan land.
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism borrowed tantric
and shamanic attributes, as well as
elements from Tibet's native religion
called Bon.
Tibetan Buddhism
Bon is a pre-Buddhistic religion, Bon was a
kind of shamanism where spirits and
deities were revered (Parrinder 1971).
Ancient Bon rituals were concerned with
the performance of magic, incantations,
and spells, and with the protection of
people from unwanted demons prowling
in the dark (Hopfe 1983).
Tibetan Buddhism
When Buddhism entered Tibet, it adapted to the
local belief system thereby producing rituals and
practices that were to some extent different from
other Mahayana traditions. For example, the most
distinct Buddhist symbol is the pagoda or stupa
which has a Tibetan form in the chorten (Parrinder
1971; Bowker 1997)
Common Symbols of Buddhism

Pagoda Stupa
Chorten
Tibetan Buddhism
One major distinguishing feature of Tibetan Buddhism is the use of
magic as a coping mechanisms in the Tibetan way of life (Hopfe
1983). The use of chants and yoga is also part of Tibetan Buddhism.
For utilizing manuals (tantru) for one's magical instructions to
handle the unknown, it is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Buddhas
and bodhisattvas are also present in the teachings of Tibetan
Buddhism Other special features of Tibetan Buddhism include the
preoccupation with the relationship between life and death, the
important role of rituals and initiations, the use of rich visual
symbolisms, and the use of meditation practices. The four major
schools of Tibetan Buddhism include Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and
Gelug.
NYINGMA
KAGYU
SAKYA
GELUG
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism has its own set of the clergy, the
lamas, and they are commonly senior members of the
monastic community. In fact, of all the Buddhist
sanghas, the Tibetan seet has developed the most
elaborate clergy (Wach 1949). The term lama means
"the superior one" and lamas are quite frequently the
reincarnations of previous lamas.
Tibetan Buddhism
The Dalai Lama is the most prominent face
of Tibetan Buddhism and has been living in
exile in India since the Bed Chinese
occupation of Tibet in 1959. The term Dalai
means "ocean" in Mongol referring to the
vastness and depth of the person.
Tibetan Buddhism
The current and fourteenth Dalai Lama is Tenzin Gyatso
who is the leader of the Gelug school of Tibetan
Buddhism and is believed to be a reincarnation of
Avalokistesheam. Until 1959, the chief residence of the
Dalai Lama was a thirteen-story high structure called the
Potala Palace located at the Red Hill in Lhasa, Tibet. Now
a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has now been
transformed into a museum but remains a sacred place
for many Tibetans.
The 14th Dalai
Lama, Gyalwa
Rinpoche
 Selected Tibet Invasion
Issues
Tibet has been included in the territorial claims of both China
and India for many years. Given that none of the claimants
pursued their claims, Tibet effectively had a limited degree of
freedom. However, China seized control of Tibet in 1950 and
conducted talks with the administration of the 14th Dalai
Lama that resulted in the so-called "Seventeen Point
Agreement." The Dalai Lama rejected this agreement several
times, although it did establish China's control over Tibet and
gave it autonomy. Since the Tibetan rebellion was put down
by the more powerful Chinese force in 1959, the Dalai Lama's
attempt to overthrow China's puppet regime was
unsuccessful. In India, where they are currently residing as
refugees, the Dalai Lama and his supporters managed to
flee. Mao Zedong's "Great Leap Forward" program, which was
put into action in 1958
 Engaged Activism
In the 20th century, Buddhist monks
committed ritual suicide to protest
government action.

Soka Gakkai, a religious movement

based on Nichiren Buddhism, was
founded in 1930 in Japan. During World
War II, temporarily disbanded but
returned after the war. Soka Gakkai
established the Komeito, the third-most
influential party in Japan
 S U M M A R Y
The Mahasamghika (of the Great Sangha), one of the early Buddhist schools,
became the source for the initial growth of Mahayana Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhists advanced the radical idea that Siddhartha Gautama was
not the only Buddha. There were other divine beings that came to our world even
before Siddhartha some of them came after him, and still others in the future.

The canon of Mahayana Buddhism consists of the Tripitaka, namely, Sutra

Pitaka (Discourse) Vinaya Pitaka (Discipline), and Abhidharma Pitaka
(Ultimate Doctrine).

Mahayana Buddhism adopted the Sanskrit usage rather than the Pali form of
common terms strictly used in Theravada Buddhism
 S U M M A R Y
One of the most popular and prominent Mahayana Buddhist texts (or sutra) is
the Lotus Sutra containing the most definitive teachings of the Buddha

The concept of Trikaya ("three bodies") pertains to the teaching of Mahayana

Buddhism about the nature of the Buddha and reality

One distinct feature of Mahayana Buddhism concerns its teaching about an

enlightened being or bodhisattva (enlightened existence") who is already
eligible to enter nirvana but opts to forego this right to assist others attain the
same state.

Buddhism integrates an assortment of religious practices and devotional rituals

with the objective of aiding worshippers in their journey toward enlightenment
and in bringing blessings to each and every one.
THANK
YOU !
Presentation by GROUP 3

World Religion | 2022

QUIZ!
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 QUIZ #3 ON 1/4 PAPER
1. ("of the Great Sangha") , one of the early 7. What does "Paramita" means?
buddhist school in ancient city of india.
8. It means "The Enlightened Existence"
2. The God who supervises the western
paradise. 9. What is one of the most popular and
prominent Mahayana Buddhist texts?
3. Mahayana Buddhism is also known as ....
10. Dalai Lama means?
4. Name atleast ONE of the three basket of
wisdom

5. The word for "meditation"in india is what?

6. Give ONE example of mudras

 1. Mahasamghika
2. Amitabha
Answer Key
3. Great Vehicle
4. Vinaya/Sutra/Abhidhamma
5. Dhyana
6. Dyana/Cosmic/Vertaka
7. Perfections
8. Bodhisattva
9. Lotus Sutra
10. OCEAN