Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of Buddha which are referred to as “Dharma” or “the Dharma.” Buddhist believe they are on a spiritual quest to attain a state of complete enlightenment known as Nirvana. Over time the Buddhist religion has evolved, fractured and adapted as the religion spread to the continent of Asia and around the globe. Today, there are three major sects of Buddhism and several smaller variants of the religion.
These different Buddhist religions are all united under some core Buddhist principles. They all accept Buddha as their spiritual teacher. The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path are core principles and philosophies of the faith. All believe that Buddhahood is the highest possible state that can be achieved.
Around 300 BC, the Theravada, or “Traditions of the Elders” was first established. This religion centered around the teachings of Buddha and encouraged it's followers to use meditation as a means to teach the mind and eliminate suffering with the ultimate goal of reaching Nirvana. Theravada Buddhism established the canon of Buddhist teachings and the Ten Precepts which govern the lifestyle of Buddhist monks.
Theravada Buddhism began in India and moved through southeast Asia into Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam and other Asian countries. As it was adopted by the indigenous peoples, the Theravada was altered to incorporate the religious viewpoints of the various geographic regions. It is still practiced in Laos, Sri Lanka and Cambodia today.
Mahayana, or Eastern Buddhism, broadens the Buddhist scriptures to include other religious philosophies and texts that champion of belief in universal compassion and altruism. These beliefs are central to their concept of an “Awakened mind.” Practiced primarily in China, Korea and Japan, Mahayana Buddhism incorporates elements of cosmology and mysticism. Mahayana Buddhism itself has splintered into two variants. Zen Buddhism, which focuses more on internalization of the spiritual path and self-reliance and Pure Land Buddhism which teaches that dedication to the Amitabha Buddha is required to reach Nirvana.
Vajrayana or Tibetan Buddhism is very similar to Mahayana Buddhism with subtle variations. referred to as Tantric Buddhism, Vajrayana incorporates text and scriptures from both Mahayana and Theraveda Buddhism along with Buddhist Tantras. A major difference of Vajrayana Buddhism is that it teaches that Buddhahood can be achieved in a single life time without need for reincarnation.
the Path to Enlightenment and Buddhahood is the most significant difference between the various Buddhist disciplines. While all believe in the core principles of meditation and spiritual questing guided by the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, the attainment of Nirvana varies considerably.
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