Types of Buddhism:
Buddhism
is not a single monolithic religion. There are many different
variations which have developed with little conflict. This has
been because at its core is a philosophical system to which
such additions can be easily grafted.
The main branches:
Theravada / Hinayana (The great tradition or the way of the elders):
Practised
in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos and sticks
firmly to the teachings of the Vinaya Pitaka. It teaches that
Buddha was a man, a very special man, a very special person
but nevertheless human.
Theravada
teaches that there is no reality corresponding to the concept
of God that we can rely on for salvation. The monastic sangha
(assembly) is at the heart of the practice and as well as working
towards realization and enlightenment for themselves, the role
of Theravada monks is to preserve and spread the Buddhist teaching
(the dharma).
Lay Thervada
Buddhists live to support monks and attempt to live a life of
morality, generosity and detachment, turning to Buddhism for
religious ceremonies. Theravada is very individualistic. Its
key virtue is wisdom and its ideal is Arahat (saint). They see
Buddha as a saint.
Mahayana (little tradition)
Theraveda
emphasizes the life of the monk and serious meditation practices
that demand extended time and isolation which became difficult
for millions and as Buddhism moved into new countries outside
India it also had to compete with other religions. A new strand
developed which was known as Mahayana.
Mahayan
accommodated and change it’s religious beliefs and practises
to the religious expectations and ideas of people. They moved
away from considering monks as the only elite and beyond the
monastery. The Mahayan interpreted and transformed the Buddha
and his teachings into divine being of personal nature and transcendence.
The Lotus
Sutra, a sacred Buddhist writing states that there are infinite
numbers of Buddha saving people. Many people can achieve Buddha
hood based on their ethics, enlightenment and compassion and
one may become a Bodhisattva, a saviour, who helps others.
Mahayana
speaks of a Buddha land (heaven) faithful Buddhist go after
death.
The Amida
Buddha with a great following amongst Japanese Buddhists has
a heaven bliss called “Pure Land” and offers compassion to people
who honour him and heavenly reward in paradise. Mahayana philosophy
is drawn from various scriptures however the two most important
are the Madhyamaka which teaches the emptiness of all things
that nothing is anything in or by itself but only in relation
to others. The Yogachara teaches that all things are consciousness
only.
Variants of Mahayana Buddhism:
Tibetan Buddhism:
A mixture
of Buddhism, Tantrism and the ancient Bon religion of Tibet.
They have a vast collection of scriptures (tantras), which describe
powerful rituals. Their teachers (Lamas) are said to be reincarnations
of holy teachers who lived in earlier times.
The spiritual
leader of Tibetan Buddhists is the Dalai Lama who is believed
to be the reincarnation of Avalokiteshvara.
Zen Buddhism:
Developed
from CH’an a school of Chinese Buddhism formed in the Seventh
century from a blend of Taoism (Chinese philosophy outlined
in the TaoTeChing). It aims is to achieve harmony with all that
is by pursuing inaction and effortless) and Mahayana teachings.
The school stressed experience rather than learning. One of
the heroes of Zen is the fierce – looking Indian monk Boddhidharma
who brought Buddhism to China.
Absolute
faith is placed in a person’s own inner being. Zen came to Japan
in the 13th century five centuries after the orthodox
forms of Buddhism. It appealed because of its emphasis on the
uselessness of words and the insistence of action without thought.
Zen teaches
the possibility of enlightenment in the here and now, unlike
the tendency that have developed in other strands of Buddhism
as far off goals. It teaches that enlightenment is a spontaneous
event, totally independent of concepts, techniques or rituals.
Zen Monks are based on doing things, learning through experience.
Pure Land Buddhism:
Buddhist
sect founded by a Chinese monk called Hui Yuan (AD 334 –416).
It focuses on one particular scripture which tells of a living
Buddha who inhabits another world system, a far off place known
as the Pure Land. The Buddha is Amitabha and his followers believe
that through faith they will be transported there after death.
Nichiren Buddhism:
A Japanese
Buddhist reformer whose teachings are based on the Mahayana
Sutra (scripture) known as the Lotus Sutra which contained the
ultimate truth and that it could be compressed into a sacred
formula NAMO MYOHO RENGE KYO (homage to the Lotus of the wonderful
law).
The central practice of Nichiren Buddhism is reciting
the mantra of the namo myoho rengye kyo. Nichiren denounced
all other forms of Buddhism and when the Mongols threatened
Japan preached a fiery nationalism, urging the nation to convert
to true Buddhism.