The specific differences between Mahayana and Theravada?

Exploring Theravāda's connections to other paths - what can we learn from other traditions, religions and philosophies?
Locked
User avatar
Wizard in the Forest
Posts: 699
Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:16 am
Location: House in Forest of Illusions

The specific differences between Mahayana and Theravada?

Post by Wizard in the Forest »

The Bodhisattva ideal comes to mind, as does the definition of an Arahant, Buddha, and Nirvana. I remember there were different Parami as well, but I don't quite grasp the main specific philosophical differences there is between the two schools of thought. I'm missing the big point, and am afraid of asking around and setting people off, so perhaps, can anyone explain to me the main philosophical differences?

(I already saw Ajahn Brahm's video, and that didn't clear it up. It just said they're mostly the same when you get to the bare fundamentals, and I know that.)

Try not fighting please (^_^)
"One is not born a woman, but becomes one."- Simone de Beauvoir
User avatar
Cloud
Posts: 63
Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2010 7:11 pm
Contact:

Re: The specific differences between Mahayana and Theravada?

Post by Cloud »

I think the Mahayana tradition arose because of other enlightened beings that had a different approach to enlightenment, and instead of taking credit for their own teachings, they gave credit to the Buddha... thus giving them authenticity as being the Buddha's teachings, when in fact they are not (though preserving much of what the Buddha had taught). The divisiveness between the schools is in not recognizing that the Buddha taught things a certain way and that these new perspectives are not specifically his teachings; they are modified.

Now we have a school of Buddhism that prays to a Bodhisattva that enlightenment might happen in a future life, and also a school that teaches reincarnation. Further and further we go from the road to self-liberation here in this life that the Buddha (I believe) espoused. There is no difference between the death of a normal man, a Buddha, and a Bodhisattva; the aggregates are not permanently affected by the realization of Nirvana. This is a practice to end our suffering now; it doesn't remove us, or any part of us, permanently from the active universe. All things are not self... there is nothing to fear from enlightenment, but I believe both fear and wrong view lead to some of these newer forms that place higher value on restraining one's self from this very goal of the Buddha's teachings, and placing a selfishness upon those who are trying to awaken for the benefit of all mankind.

The Bodhisattva ideal is a noble one, but if seen with wrong view with a component of self still in the mix, it is misguided and will not lead to the end of suffering. Indeed, it may lead to its perpetuation and the dissolution of the Buddha's teachings.
Last edited by Cloud on Tue Dec 14, 2010 8:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
Sanghamitta
Posts: 1614
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:21 am
Location: By the River Thames near London.

Re: The specific differences between Mahayana and Theravada?

Post by Sanghamitta »

What Cloud said.
The going for refuge is the door of entrance to the teachings of the Buddha.

Bhikku Bodhi.
User avatar
Nicholas Weeks
Posts: 4210
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:26 pm
Location: USA West Coast

Re: The specific differences between Mahayana and Theravada?

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

The main difference is the authenticity of Mahayana sutras: Theravada says none of them were taught by Buddha. So any notion found only in the Mahayana sutras is, says Theravada, not Buddhist.
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
Sanghamitta
Posts: 1614
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:21 am
Location: By the River Thames near London.

Re: The specific differences between Mahayana and Theravada?

Post by Sanghamitta »

Certainly that is an accurate description of the view of many Theravadins.
The going for refuge is the door of entrance to the teachings of the Buddha.

Bhikku Bodhi.
User avatar
Hanzze
Posts: 1906
Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2010 12:47 pm
Location: Cambodia

Re: The specific differences between Mahayana and Theravada?

Post by Hanzze »

Dear Will, dear friends,

I wrote a quote some days ago, something like that, but more English and poetic *smile*: Knowing the true, we will not dispute about it.

The way of leaving the home in the original way like the Theravadas teaches, is not possible in countries with cool season. The sangha would sooner or later be to much involved (as they are to dependent on support - especial housing and food provide in the cool season) in the worldly life. The Sangha needs the support of the layman. As there is no support in the right way of the laypeople, that teaching (sangha) gets in troubles.

The way of mahayana provides an alternative. It is able to exist also nearly "independent" of the laypeople and it also has a more "social" (from a worldly view) refection on people around even they are not much into the Buddha Dhamma.

I guess that is the main different, but I can be wrong.
The dhamma and the kind of practice on the basis is in all vehicles the same.

_/\_
with loving kindness
Just that! *smile*
...We Buddhists must find the courage to leave our temples and enter the temples of human experience, temples that are filled with suffering. If we listen to Buddha, Christ, or Gandhi, we can do nothing else. The refugee camps, the prisons, the ghettos, and the battlefields will become our temples. We have so much work to do. ... Peace is Possible! Step by Step. - Samtach Preah Maha Ghosananda "Step by Step" http://www.ghosananda.org/bio_book.html

BUT! it is important to become a real Buddhist first. Like Punna did: Punna Sutta Nate sante baram sokham _()_
User avatar
ground
Posts: 2591
Joined: Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:01 am

Re: The specific differences between Mahayana and Theravada?

Post by ground »

Wizard in the Forest wrote:The Bodhisattva ideal comes to mind, as does the definition of an Arahant, Buddha, and Nirvana. I remember there were different Parami as well, but I don't quite grasp the main specific philosophical differences there is between the two schools of thought.
I'm missing the big point, and am afraid of asking around and setting people off, so perhaps, can anyone explain to me the main philosophical differences?
If you are looking for philosophical differences then you are on the wrong track.


Mahayana teaches the way of the bodhisattva explicitely and exclusively. This is the essential difference.

Kind regards
Sanghamitta
Posts: 1614
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:21 am
Location: By the River Thames near London.

Re: The specific differences between Mahayana and Theravada?

Post by Sanghamitta »

No thats only part of it T Mingyur, the other part of it is that the Theravada does not teach the way of the Bodhisattva at all.
The going for refuge is the door of entrance to the teachings of the Buddha.

Bhikku Bodhi.
User avatar
ground
Posts: 2591
Joined: Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:01 am

Re: The specific differences between Mahayana and Theravada?

Post by ground »

Sanghamitta wrote:No thats only part of it T Mingyur, the other part of it is that the Theravada does not teach the way of the Bodhisattva at all.
Fine. That makes differentiation even more straightforward. :)

Kind regards
User avatar
Wizard in the Forest
Posts: 699
Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:16 am
Location: House in Forest of Illusions

Re: The specific differences between Mahayana and Theravada?

Post by Wizard in the Forest »

I have heard there's a difference on how emptiness is taught too, but I don't know how. I mentioned the Bodhisattva ideal.
"One is not born a woman, but becomes one."- Simone de Beauvoir
Sanghamitta
Posts: 1614
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:21 am
Location: By the River Thames near London.

Re: The specific differences between Mahayana and Theravada?

Post by Sanghamitta »

TMingyur wrote:
Sanghamitta wrote:No thats only part of it T Mingyur, the other part of it is that the Theravada does not teach the way of the Bodhisattva at all.
Fine. That makes differentiation even more straightforward. :)

Kind regards
I think it is. I dont see what the problem is. The Theravada is not the Mahayana. The Mahayana is not the Theravada, its only a problem if we try to create a weird hybrid.
The going for refuge is the door of entrance to the teachings of the Buddha.

Bhikku Bodhi.
User avatar
ground
Posts: 2591
Joined: Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:01 am

Re: The specific differences between Mahayana and Theravada?

Post by ground »

Wizard in the Forest wrote:I have heard there's a difference on how emptiness is taught too,...
As there are different methods of learning a foreign language

So the didactical approach is different yes. But really this only distracts from the essential difference as to what is taught.

Kind regards
User avatar
Wizard in the Forest
Posts: 699
Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:16 am
Location: House in Forest of Illusions

Re: The specific differences between Mahayana and Theravada?

Post by Wizard in the Forest »

I learn foreign languages for a living so I'll be honest in saying that's a terrible metaphor when you're talking about a philosophical system. If a term is used in a completely different way the differentiation can be like the difference between 2 different explanations of physics.
"One is not born a woman, but becomes one."- Simone de Beauvoir
User avatar
ground
Posts: 2591
Joined: Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:01 am

Re: The specific differences between Mahayana and Theravada?

Post by ground »

Sanghamitta wrote:
TMingyur wrote:
Sanghamitta wrote:No thats only part of it T Mingyur, the other part of it is that the Theravada does not teach the way of the Bodhisattva at all.
Fine. That makes differentiation even more straightforward. :)

Kind regards
I think it is. I dont see what the problem is. The Theravada is not the Mahayana. The Mahayana is not the Theravada, its only a problem if we try to create a weird hybrid.
I dont see a problem either. and I do not advocate hybrids at all.
But obviously the OP has a problem as to recognizing the difference.


Kind regards
User avatar
ground
Posts: 2591
Joined: Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:01 am

Re: The specific differences between Mahayana and Theravada?

Post by ground »

Wizard in the Forest wrote:I learn foreign languages for a living so I'll be honest in saying that's a terrible metaphor when you're talking about a philosophical system. If a term is used in a completely different way the differentiation can be like the difference between 2 different explanations of physics.
If you want to discuss philosophy then go ahead (without me).

I just said what the essential difference is: The teachings of the way of the bodhisattva.


Kind regards
Locked