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Buddhism is a , and Vajrayāna . Buddhism continues to attract followers worldwide, and, with around 708 million followers, it is considered a Major World Religion . A ''' or Nirvāṇa (Pāli nibbāna). Gautama the Buddha See Also: Gautama Buddha According to all Buddhist traditions, the Buddha of the present age, called Siddhārtha ( and the republic of the Koliya s along the Ganges , separated from Koliya by the river Rohiṇī. The exact location of Lumbinī is fixed in what is now south central Nepal by a Pillar inscription of King Aśoka from the 3rd century BCE commemorating the Buddha's birth. Despite weighty evidence for this location, Mr. Chandrabhanu Patel of the Orissa Museum has claimed that the birthplace was actually in Orissa state, hundreds of miles to the southeast. Siddhārtha's father was , and his wife and child, to take up the life of a wandering holy man in search of the answer to the problem of birth, old age, sickness, and death. Gautama pursued the path of the śramaṇa and Meditation with two Brahmin hermits, and, although he quickly achieved high levels of meditative consciousness ( Dhyāna ), he was still not satisfied with the results. Gautama then began his training in the Ascetic life and practicing vigorous techniques of physical and mental austerity. Gautama proved quite adept at these practices, and was able to surpass his teachers. However, he found no answer to his questions. Leaving behind established teachers, he and a small group of close companions set out to take their austerities even further. After six years of ascetism, and nearly starving himself to death without any profit, Gautama began to reconsider his path. He then remembered a moment in childhood in which he had been watching his father start the season's plowing; he had fallen into a naturally concentrated and focused state in which he felt a blissful and refreshing feeling and time seemed to stand still. After discarding asceticism and concentrating on Meditation , Gautama discovered what Buddhists call the Middle Way – a path of moderation away from the extremes of Self-indulgence and Self-mortification . To strengthen his body, he accepted a little buttermilk from a passing goatherd. Then, sitting under a Pipal tree, now known as the Bodhi Tree , he vowed never to arise until he had found the Truth. At the age of 35, he attained Enlightenment and became a Buddha . He preached his first sermon in Sarnath a place very near Vārāṇasī (Benares) in North India. venerated by Indra and Brahma , Kanishka Casket , dated to 127 CE , British Museum .]] For the remaining 45 years of his life, Gautama Buddha traveled in the Gangetic Plain of northeastern India, teaching his doctrine and discipline to all—from nobles to outcaste street sweepers, including adherents of many different schools and teachers. The Buddha founded the two Saṅghas (monastic communities) of monks and of nuns, which continued to expound his teaching after his death. Doctrines Numerous distinct groups have developed since the passing of Gautama Buddha, with diverse teachings that vary widely in practice, philosophical emphasis, and culture. However, there are certain doctrines which are common to the majority of schools and traditions in Buddhism. Dependent Origination See Also: Pratitya-samutpada The . Because all things are thus conditioned and transient ( Anitya ''', Pāli '''anicca'''), they have no real, independent identity (''' Anātman ''', Pāli '''anatta''') and so do not truly ‘exist’, although to ordinary minds they do appear to exist. All phenomena are thus fundamentally insubstantial and empty ( śūnya ). Wise human beings, who possess "insight into the knowledge of how things are" ('''yathā-bhūta-ñāṇa-dassana''', Sanskrit '''yathābhūtajñanadarśana'''), renounce Attachment And Clinging which cause suffering (''' Duḥkha ''', Pāli '''dukkha'''), transform the energy of desire into awareness and understanding, and eventually attain ''' Nirvāṇa '''. The Four Noble Truths See Also: The Four Noble Truths The Buddha taught that life was dissatisfactory because of craving, but that this condition was curable by following the (Sanskrit: ''catvāry āryasatyāni''; Pali: ''cattāri ariyasaccāni''). # '' Dukkha '': All worldly life is unsatisfactory, disjointed, containing suffering. # ''Samudaya'': There is a cause of suffering, which is attachment or desire ( Tanha ) rooted in ignorance ( Avidyā ). # ''Nirodha'': There is an end of suffering, which is Nirvana . # ''Magga'': There is a path that leads out of suffering, known as the Noble Eightfold Path . The Four Noble Truths was the topic of the first sermon given by the Buddha after his enlightenment, which was given to the ascetics with whom he had practiced austerities. The Noble Eightfold Path See Also: Noble Eightfold Path The Noble Eightfold Path is the way to the cessation of suffering, the fourth part of the Four Noble Truths. In order to fully understand the noble truths and investigate whether they were in fact true, Buddha recommended that a certain path be followed which consists of: #Right view - samyag-dṛṣṭi, sammā-diṭṭhi #Right resolve - samyak-saṃkalpa, sammā-saṅkalpa #Right Speech - samyag-vāc, sammā-vācā #Right Conduct - samyak-karmānta, sammā-kammanta #Right Livelihood - samyag-ājīva, sammā-ājīva #Right Effort - samyag-vyāyāma, sammā-vāyāma #Right Mindfulness - samyak-smṛti, sammā-sati #Right concentration - samyak-samādhi, sammā-samādhi The word 'samyak' means "turned to one point or against each other, universus or adversus; whole, entire, all; correct, right, true." {Link without Title} There are a number of ways to interpret the Eightfold Path. On one hand, the Noble Eightfold Path is spoken of as being a progressive series of stages through which the practitioner moves, the culmination of one leading to the beginning of another, whereas others see it as the states of the 'Path' as requiring simultaneous development. It is also common to categorise into Prajñā (Pāli '''paññā''', wisdom), ''' śīla ''' (Pāli '''sīla''', virtuous behaviour) and ''' Samādhi ''' (concentration). Bodhi See Also: Bodhi Bodhi (s (perfections), when the Four Noble Truths are fully grasped, and when all Karma has reached cessation. At this moment, all greed (''lobha''), aversion (''dosa''), delusion (''moha''), ignorance (''avijjā''), Craving (''tanha'') and Ego-centered Consciousness (''attā'') are extinguished. Bodhi thus includes Anattā , the absence of ego-centeredness. All schools of Buddhism recognise Three Type Of Bodhi . They are Sāvaka-Bodhi ( Sravaka-Buddha ), Pacceka-Bodhi ( Pratyeka Buddha ) and Sammā-Sambodhi ( Samyaksam Buddha or Boddhisatva Buddha). The aspiration to attain the state of Sammā-Sambodhi, known as Boddhisatva ideal is considered as the highest ideal of Buddhism. Middle Way The primarily guiding principle of Buddhist practice is the Middle Way which was discovered by Gautama Buddha prior to his enlightenment ( Bodhi ). The ''Middle Way'' or ''Middle Path'' is often described as the practice of non-extremism; a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence and opposing self-mortification. It is also another name for the Noble Eightfold Path , which is often divided into Panja (Wisdom), Sila (Dicipline) and Samadhi (Meditative Mind). Refuge in The Three Jewels with the triratana, the symbolic depiction of the Three Jewels , and the Dharma Wheel , 1st century CE, Gandhara .]] Main articles: Refuge (Buddhism) and Three Jewels Acknowledging the Four Noble Truths and making the first step in The Noble Eightfold Path requires taking of Refuge in the '' Three Jewels '' of Buddhism—the Buddha , the Dharma , and the Sangha —as the foundation of one's religious practice. Buddhists believe that there is no otherworldly salvation from one's Karma . The suffering caused by the karmic effects of previous thoughts, words and deeds can be alleviated by following the '' Noble Eightfold Path ''. Gautama Buddha presented himself as a model and beseeched his followers to have faith ( Saddha ) in his example of a human who escaped the pain and danger of existence. The Dharma , that is, the teaching of Buddha, offers a refuge by providing guidelines for the alleviation of suffering and the attainment of enlightenment. The Sangha , in this sense meaning the group of Buddhists possessing at least some degree of enlightenment, provides a refuge by preserving the authentic teachings of the Buddha and providing further examples that the truth of the Buddha's teachings is attainable. Prajna (Wisdom) ''Main articles: Prajna , and Paramita '' Prajñā (, The Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path . Prajñā is the wisdom that is able to extinguish afflictions and bring about Bodhi . It is spoken of as the principal means, by its enlightenment, of attaining Nirvana , through its revelation of the true nature of all things. Prajñā is also listed as the sixth of the six Paramita s. In initial stage, prajna is attained at a conceptual level by mean of listening to sermon (dharma talk), reading and sometimes reciting Buddhist texts and engaging in discourse. Gautama Buddha taught dharma to his diciples mainly through the mean of discourse or sermon, many attaining bodhi upon hearing Buddha's discourse. Once the conceptual understanding is attained, it is applied to daily life so that each Buddhist can verify the truth of the Buddha's teaching at a practical level. Lastly, one engages in insight meditation (vipassana meditation) to attain such wisdom at intuitive level. It should be noted that one could theoretically attain bodhi at any point of practice, while listening to sermon, while conducting business of daily life or while in meditation. Śila (Virtuous Behaviour) ''Main articles: Śīla'' , Karma and Paramita '' In Sanskrit , '' śīla '' is usually rendered into English as "behavioral discipline," or ethics. It is often translated as "precept". An action that is an intentional effort. It is one of the ''three practices'' and the second Pāramitā : moral purity of thought, word, and deed. The four conditions of ''śīla'' are chastity, calmness, quiet, and extinguishment, i.e. no longer being susceptible to perturbation by the passions. In Buddhism, the 'Law of ; so likewise there is samsaric good karma, which leads to the high realms (such as the human realm), and then there is liberating karma - which is supremely good. Therefore the major dichotomy is ''samsaric karma'' and ''liberating karma'', of which the former is typically divided into the three: good, neutral, and bad (in accordance with the degree of samsaric happiness or suffering that will mature as a consequence). Likewise, liberating karma is divided into three: according to whether it will mature the being as one of Three Types Of Buddha . It is important to distinguish between sila (precept) and vinaya (monastic code). Sila refers to overall principle of ethical behaviour while vinaya is collection of monastic code. For this reason, vinaya is applicable to monks and nuns while sila is applicable to all buddhist both layity and sangha members. Lay Buddhists generally undertake at least one of the five precepts ('' Pancasila '') and this is common to all buddhist school. The Five Precepts are not given in the form of commands such as "thou shalt not ...", but rather are promises to oneself: "I will ..." # To refrain from harming living creatures ( Ahimsa ). # To refrain from taking that which is not freely given (stealing). # To refrain from Sexual Misconduct . # To refrain from incorrect speech (lying, harsh language, slander, idle chit-chat). # To refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness. The content of vinaya differ slightly according to different scriptures. And different schools set different standards for the degree of adherence to vinaya. Serious lay people or aspiring monks take an additional three to five ethical precepts. In Vinaya, some of the five precepts are strengthened for monks. For example, the precept pertaining to sexual misconduct becomes a precept of celibacy. Samadhi (Meditative Mind) ''Main article Samadhi , Vipassana and Buddhist Meditation '' In the language of the Eight-fold Path , samatha is "right concentration". Primarily mean of cultivating Samadhi is meditation. Almost all Buddhist schools agree that the Buddha taught two types of meditation, viz. Samatha Meditation and Vipassana Meditation . Upon development of ''samadhi'', one's mind becomes purified of defilement, calm, tranquil, and luminous. Once the meditator achieves a strong and powerful concentration ( Jhana ), his mind is ready to penetrate and gain insight ( Vipassana ) into the ultimate nature of reality, eventually obtaining release from all suffering. The cultivation of Mindfulness is essential to mental concentration, which is needed to achieve insight. Samatha Meditation starts from being mindful to an object or idea, which is expanded to one's body, mind and entire surroundings, leading to state of total concentration and tranquility ( Jhana ). There are many variations in the style of meditation, from sitting cross-legged or kneeling to chanting or walking. The most common method of meditation is to concentrate on one's breath, because this practice can lead to both samatha and vipassana. In Buddhist practice, it is said that while samatha meditation can calm the mind, only vipassana meditation can reveal how the mind was disturbed to start with, which is what leads to Jñana (knowledge) Vijnana (awareness), Prajña (pure understanding) and thus can lead to Nirvana . Buddhism after the Buddha :''Main articles: History Of Buddhism and Buddhist Councils During his life time, Buddha specifically refused to answer a number of Questions . These are (1) Whether the world is eternal (2) Whether the world is infinite (3) Whether the body and the soul is one and (4) Whether the Buddha exists after death. The Buddha, using an analogy of poisoned arrow, indicated to Malunkyaputta that such speculative questions are ultimately unprofitable. {Link without Title} In another occasion, the Buddha, without giving specific elaboration, stated that minor vinaya rule can be amended by Sangha. It is also believed that Buddha used Magdhi or Ardha-Magadhi dialect, which is very similar to the literary language of the Jains dialect. However, Buddha "admonished his leading Arhats not to compel his followers to learn Ardha-Magadhi in order to understand his doctrine" {Link without Title} . He further diverged from ancient Brahmin tradition by allowing monks and nuns not just to preach in local language but recite dharma in local language as well. Soon after The Passing Of Gautama Buddha , the first Buddhist council was held. As with any ancient Indian tradition, transmission of teaching were done orally. Primary purpose of assembly were to collectively recite the teaching so to ensure that no errors occurs in oral transmission. In the first council, Ananda , the Buddha's personal attendant was called upon to recite the discourses of the Buddha ( ''sutra/sutta'' ), and Upali , another disciple, recited the monastic rules ( Vinaya ). Early Buddhism Main articles: The Second Buddhist Council and Early Buddhist Schools As Sangha gradually prolifirated over a century disputes arose within different Sangha. In 383 BCE, the second council was held to resolve the dispute. Both Northern Mahayana tradition and Southern Theravada tradition recognise that the meeting occurred while the account of the exact nature of the disputes differs. Theravada tradition state that the disputes were about vinaya while Mahayana tradition state that the diputes were about the state of enlightenment and hence the authority of Arahants . Whatever the nature of the dispute, the council result in the first schism (sanghbheda) resulting in Sthaviravada , "School of the Elders", (Sthaviras-Elders in Sanskrit) and Mahasanghika , "School of the Greater Sangha" (maha-great(er) from Sanskrit and Sangha ”). Moreover, at this point, each Sangha started to accumulate Abhidhamma , collection of commentaries on the discourse of the Buddha. It is not known whether such commentaries existed from the time of the Buddha. However, as Buddhism spread and came in contact with different religious orders, it became increasingly necessary to enage and debate Dharma and formalise discourse of the Buddha in more systematic manner. As each sects developed different collections of Abhidharma , this has contributed to further fragmentation of Sangha. These sects of Buddhism are referred to as Nikaya (section) in modern Theravada tradition and Hinayana (lesser vehicle) sects in Mahayana tradition. Some modern academic also refere it as Abhidhamma Buddhism. at the time of king Ashoka ( 260 – 218 BCE ).]] Buddhism still prolifilated slowly in India until Mauryan king Ashoka began actively supporting it. His efforts at promotion led to the construction of Buddhist religious sites ( Stupa ) and to missionary efforts that spread the faith into neighboring lands. This period marks the first spread of Buddhism beyond India. According to the Edicts Of Ashoka , emissaries were sent to various countries in order to spread Buddhism particularly in the neighboring Greco-Bactrian Kingdom , and possibly even farther to the Mediterranean. This led to the development of Greco-Buddhist Art of Gandhara . It is also speculated that Buddhism incorporated influences "from popular Hindu devotional cults ( Bhakti ) and Persian and Greco-Roman theologies which filtered into India from the northwest" (Lowenstein, 1996). Establishment of Theravada Buddhism (Southern Tradition) See Also: Theravada The only existing record of Asoka, aside from Edicts Of Asoka are from Buddhist source. Dípavamsa , Mahavamsa , Samantapasadika are from southern Vibhajjavada lineage while Divyavadana and Avadanasataka are from northern Sarvastivadin lineage. According to Vibhajjavada record, King Ashoka convened the third Buddhist council around 250 BCE. The objective of the council was to reconcile the different schools of Buddhism. In the assembly, Tipitaka (the three baskets) was composed comprising monastic code ( Vinaya ), discourse of the Buddha ( Sutra ) and commentaries ( Abhidharma ). The language use in compilation was Pali . Schools from Sthaviravada were reorganised as Vibhajjavada and were declared authoritative. The Vibhajjavada, meaning analytica discourse claim that the first step to insight has to be achieved by the aspirant's experience, critical investigation, and reasoning instead of by blind faith. According to Theravada record, Sarvastivadin and the Dharmaguptaka schools were rejected by the council. However, they became influential in northwestern India and Central Asia and likely to have had some formative influence to Mahayana in later period as their teaching are pareserved in Mahayana tradition. It was long believe in Theravada tradition that Pali is derived or equivalent to Magdhi, the eastern dialect used by the Buddha. However, the comparative lingustic study of Edicts Of Ashoka and Pali Tripitaka suggest origin in the western dialect around Girnar in Gujarat where one of Ashoka's Rock edict still exists. There is no record of the third Council in Sarvastivadin lineage. According to Theravada record, Vibhajjavada Tipitaka was introduced to Sri Lanka by Mahinda , son of Emperor Asoka . Rise of Mahayana Buddhism (Northern Tradition) Buddhism between the 1st–10th century CE.]] See Also: Mahayana Mahayana as a distinct movement began around the 1st century BCE in the area around Kushan Empire (now area within Pakistan) before it was transmitted in a highly evolved form to China in the 2nd century CE. On one side, Mahayana was a laity movement focused around Stupa devotion. Pictures within the wall of stupa representing the story of the Buddha and his previous reincarnation as bodisattva were used to preach Buddhism to the mass. The devotion to transcendent all precent Buddha and bodisattva which is distinct from Sangha become increasingly emphasised. Sangha, at the same time, became increasingly fragmented both in term of Abhidharma and vinaya practice. This led to widening distance between laity and Sangha. The Mahayana movement, on the other hand, was ecumenical, reflecting wide range influence from Various Sects . Still, in term of Abbhidharma, Sarvastivadin (who had been rejected by the 3rd council, according to the Theravada tradition) and the Dharmaguptaka which were both dominant in Kushan Empire seems to have had major influence. In term of vinaya practice, Mahasamghaka branch of sects which emphaised greater openeness might played dominant role. Monks representing different theological orientation could live in the same Sangha as long as they practice the same vinaya. Moreover, those who believe that Mahayana sutras were composed during this period speculate that the process of reshuffeling of sutras according to various Abbhidharma eventually led to editing which made the composition of new Mahayana sutras possible. Around 100 AD , the Kushan emperor Kanishka convened the fourth Buddhist council and is usually associated with the formal rise of Mahayana Buddhism. This council is not recognised by Theravada line of buddhism. This council did not simply rely on the original Tipitaka in the third council. Instead, a set of new scriptures, mostly notably, Lotus Sutra , early version of Heart Sutra and Amitabha Sutra were approved, as well as fundamental principles of doctrine based around the concept of salvation for the mass (hence Mahayana-greater vehicle) and the concept of Buddhas and bodhisattva who embody transcendent Buddha-nature who strive to achieve such goal. The new scriptures were rewritten in the classical language of Sanskrit . From that point on, and in the space of a few centuries, Mahayana was to flourish and spread in the East from India to South-East Asia , and towards the north to Central Asia , China , Korea , and finally to Japan in 538 CE . Emergence of the Vajrayana , Bhutan . In the Indian Mahayana Buddhism scriptural language of Sanskrit , the Wheel of Life is called Bhavachakra .]] See Also: Vajrayana Mahayana Buddhism which probably started as an ecumenical laity movement received a significant theoretical formalisation by Nagarjuna (c.150 - 250 CE), arguably the most influential scholars within Mahayana tradition. From studying his writings, it is clear that Nāgārjuna was conversant with both the Nikaya/Hinayana philosophies and the emerging Mahāyāna tradition. He is mostly likely to be a Māhayānist as he makes explicit references to Mahayana texts while his philosophy holds assiduously within the parameters set out by the Tripitaka sutras. In a complete repudiation to then dominant Sarvastivada school which argue for the existence of dharma in past, present, and future, Nāgārjuna asserted that the nature of the dharma (hence the enlightenment) to be śūnyatā (void or emptiness), bringing together other key Buddhist doctrines, particularly Anatta (no-self) and Pratitya-samutpada (dependent origination). His school of thought is known as Madhyamaka . After the end of the Kushans , Buddhism flourished in India during the dynasty of the Gupta s (4th–6th century). Mahayana centres of learning were established, the most important one being the Nalanda University in north-eastern India. Sarvastivada teaching, which was criticized by Nagarjuna was reformulated by scholars such as Vasubandhu and Asanga and were incorporated into Yogacara (''sanskrit: yoga practice'') school. While the Madhyamaka school asserted that there is no ultimately real thing, the Yogācāra school asserts that only the mind is ultimately existent. These two school of thoughts, in opposition or synthesis, form the basis of subsequent Mahayana theology. There are differing views as to just when Vajrayana and its Tantric Practice started. In the Tibetan tradition, it is claimed that the historical Shakyamuni Buddha taught tantra, but as these are esotoric teachings, they were written down long after the Buddha's other teachings. The earliest texts appeared around the early 4th Century . Still Nalanda University became a center for the development of Vajrayana theory and continue as the source of leading-edge Vajrayana practices up through the 11th Century . These practice, scriptures and theory were transmitted to China, Tibet, Indo China and South East Asia. China generally received Indian transmission up to the 11th century including tantric practice, while a vast amount of what is considered to be Tibetan Buddhism ( Vajrayana ) stems from the late ( 9th - 12th Century ) Nalanda trandtion. Decline of Buddhism in India See Also: Decline of Buddhism in India Indian Buddhism weakened in the 7th Century following White Hun and early Islamic Invasions such as that of Muhammad Bin Qasim . In 1193 Muhammad Khilji, one of Qutb-ud-Din 's generals, destroyed Nalanda , the great Buddhist university; this event was a major milestone in Indian Buddhism's suddenly precipitous decline. By the time of 1200 CE , amidst active oppression, Buddhism had become nearly extinct, and Hinduism 's revival movements such as Advaita and to the rise of the Bhakti Movement gained favor. Elements of Buddhism have remained within India to the current day: the Bauls of Bengal have a syncretic set of practices with strong emphasis on many Buddhist concepts. Other areas of India have never parted from Buddhism, including Ladakh and regions bordering the Tibetan, Nepali and Bhutanese borders. Major sects at Dazu near Chongqing , China .]] Buddhism is usually divided into two main branches: Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. Mahayanists often refer to Theravada as belonging to the '' Hinayana '', which literally ''the Lesser Vehicle''. This term is now widely seen as either inaccurate or derogatory. Some now prefer to use terms such as Nikaya Buddhism ( Nikaya referring both to the agamas and to individual Buddhist orders) or Śravakayāna (Skt. ''Vehicle of Hearers'', i.e. disciples) instead. An alternative categorisation of Buddhism follows the major languages of the Buddhist canon, which exists in Pāli , Tibetan , and Chinese collections, along with some texts that still exist Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit . Despite the difference, there are common thread to almost all buddhist branches.
See Basic Points Unifying The Theravada And The Mahayana Theravada See Also: Theravada The '''. The agamas and related vinaya texts, such as those of the Pali Canon, are generally considered by modern scholars to be the oldest of the surviving types of Buddhist literature, and they are accepted as authentic in every branch of Buddhism. Theravada is the only surviving representative of the historical Nikaya Branch of Buddhism. Nikaya Buddhism and consequently Theravada are sometimes referred to by the Mahayana as Hinayana or "small vehicle", although this is considered by some to be impolite. Native Theravada is practiced today in Sri Lanka, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and portions of China, Vietnam, and Malaysia. The aim of Nikaya Buddhism is to achieve liberation from rebirth, nirvana. Mahayana from Mt. Jiuhua .]] See Also: Mahayana The ''', and the selfless ideal of the Bodhisattva , whose goal is to achieve Buddhahood in order to be of greatest benefit to other sentient beings. In addition to the Nikaya scriptures, Mahāyāna schools recognize all or part of a genre of scriptures that were first put in writing around 1 CE . These scriptures were written in some form of Sanskrit , except for a few manuscripts in certain Prakrit s, and are concerned with the purpose of achieving Buddhahood by following the path of the bodhisattva over the course of what is often described as Countless Eons of time. Because of this immense timeframe, some Mahāyāna schools accept the idea of working towards rebirth in a Pure Land . Generally, the Pure Land is conceived of as a state which is not enlightenment in itself but which is a highly conducive environment for working toward enlightenment. Native Mahāyāna Buddhism is practiced today in China, Japan, Korea, and most of Vietnam. Some of its sub-sects include the various schools and traditions within Chan/Zen and Pure Land, two of the major forms of present-day Mahayana. Another way to look at the variation within Mahayana is from the perspective of local cultural interpretations, viz. Chinese Buddhism, Korean Buddhism, Japanese Buddhism, and Vietnamese Buddhism. One of the important aspect of Mahayana buddhism is the concept of Buddha nature. In Mahayana Buddhism, the Buddha, transcending his mere physical form, is viewed as a boundless, beginningless and endless being, present in all times and all places, yet beyond the reach of logic or mundane conceptualisation. He is regarded as the very embodiment of ungraspable and eternal yet realisable Dharma—ultimate truth or enlightenment (bodhi). In essence, all perfect Buddhas are seen by Mahayana Buddhism as One in nature - all are salvational channels or vessels of Dharma. The doctrines of the Buddha in certain Mahayana sutras contain a set of "ultimate" (''nitartha'') teachings—which are rejected by the Theravadins—on the immanence of a hidden, deep-seated reality within all sentient beings which is linked to the eternality of the Buddha and Nirvana. This immanent yet transcendent essence is variously called, in the key sutras which expound it, the ''Buddha-dhatu'' (literally "Buddha-element" or " to be the "absolutely final culmination" of his Mahayana Dharma. Vajrayana See Also: Vajrayana The ''' and Shingon Buddhism . One component of the Vajrayāna is harnessing psycho-physical energy as a means of developing profoundly powerful states of concentration and awareness. These profound states are in turn to be used as an efficient path to Buddhahood. Using these techniques, it is claimed that a practitioner can achieve Buddhahood in one lifetime, or even as little as three years. In addition to the Theravada and Mahāyāna scriptures, Vajrayāna Buddhists recognise a large body of texts that include the Buddhist Tantras . Native Vajrayana is practiced today mainly in Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, Kalmykia , Siberia , areas of India, and—in the Shingon (''Zhènyān'', 真言) and Tendai schools—in China and Japan. Principal schools of Buddhist philosophy In his lifetime, Gautam Buddha had not answered several philosophical questions. On issues like whether the world is eternal or non-eternal, finite or infinite, unity or separation of the body and the soul, complete inexistence of a person after nirvana and then death, nature of the Supreme Truth, etc, the Buddha had remained silent. Hence the Buddhist missionaries often faced philosophical questions from other religions whose answers they themselves did not know. So later Buddhists made various interpretations of Buddha's teachings and formed four major schools of thought. 1
Buddhist texts See Also: Buddhist texts Buddhist scriptures and other texts exist in great variety. Different schools of Buddhism place varying levels of value on them. Some school venerate certain texts as religious objects in themselves, while others take a more scholastic approach. The Buddhist canon of Scripture is known in Sanskrit as the ''Tripitaka'' and in Pāli as the '' Tipitaka ''. These terms literally mean "three baskets" and refer to the three main divisions of the canon, which are:
Soon after the death of the Buddha, the first Buddhist council was held presided by a monk named Mahakasyapa . The goal of the council was to record the Buddha's sayings ( Sutra s) and codify monastic rules ( Vinaya ). Ananda , the Buddha's personal attendant, was called upon to recite the discourses of the Buddha, and Upali , another disciple, recited the rules of the vinaya. These became the basis of the Tripitaka . However, these record was initally transmitted orally in form of chanting, and were committed in text in much later period. Both the sutras and the vinaya of every Buddhist school contain a wide variety of elements including discourses on the Dharma, commentaries on other teachings, cosmological and cosmogonical texts, stories of the Buddha's previous lives, and lists relating to various subjects. The Theravada and other Nikaya Schools believe that the texts of their canon contain the actual words of the Buddha. The Theravada canon, also known as the Pali Canon after the language it was written in, contains some four million words. Other texts, such as the Mahayana Sutras , are also considered to be the word of the Buddha, but were transmitted either in secret, via lineages of mythical beings (such as the Nagas ), or came directly from other Buddha s or Bodhisattva s. Some six hundred Mahayana sutras have survived in Sanskrit or in Chinese or Tibetan translations. The followers of Theravada Buddhism take the scriptures known as the Pali Canon as definitive and authoritative, while the followers of Mahayana Buddhism base their faith and philosophy primarily on the Mahayana Sutras and their own versions of the Vinaya . The Pali suttas, along with other, closely-related scriptures, are known to the other schools as the Agama s. Whereas the Theravadins adhere solely to the agamas and their commentaries, the adherents of Mahayana accept both the agamas and the Mahayana sutras as authentic and valid teachings of the Buddha, designed for different types of person and different levels of spiritual penetration. For the Theravadins, however, the Mahayana sutras are deviant works of poetic fiction, not the words of the Buddha himself. For the Mahayanists, the agamas do indeed contain basic, foundational, and, therefore, very precious teachings of the Buddha. In their view, the Mahayana sutras articulate the Buddha's higher, advanced and deeper doctrines, reserved for those who follow the Bodhisattva path, including the motivation to achieve not only personal liberation, but to attain buddhahood in order to benefit all living beings. Hence the name ''Mahayana'' (lit., ''the Greater Vehicle''), which has room for both the general masses of sentient beings and those who are more developed. Present state of Buddhism Estimates of the number of Buddhists vary between 230 million and 500 million, with 350 million being the most commonly cited figure. {Link without Title} Theravada Buddhism, based on Pali language, is the dominant form of Buddhism in Indochina, Sri Lanka and India. Mahayana Buddhism, based on Chinese script, is dominant in most of China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam as well as the Chinese communities around the world especially within Indo China and Southeast Asia as well as in the West. Vajrayana Buddhism , based on Tibetan language, is found in Tibet and surrounding area of India, Mongolia, Nepal, China and Russia. Russia is the only European country which recognises Buddhism as an official religion. At the present time, the teachings of all three branches of Buddhism have spread throughout the world and Buddhist texts are increasingly translated into local languages. While in the West, Buddhism is often seen as exotic and progressive; in the East, Buddhism is regarded as familiar and part of the establishment. Buddhists in Asia are frequently well organised and well funded. In a number of countries, it is recognised as an official religion and receives state support. In the West, Buddhism is recognised as one of the growing spiritual influences. (see Buddhism In The West ) See also Buddhism By Country Buddhist Culture and Art See Also: Buddhist Culture and Art Buddhist Art Buddhist Architecture Buddhist Music Buddhist Cuisine Comparative Study Buddhism is a fertile ground for comparative studies with different beliefs, philosophy, science, history, and various other aspects of Buddhism. In term of doctrine, Dependent Origination is Buddhism's primary contribution to metaphysics. This has wide-ranging implication in term of theology, philosophy, and science. On the other hand, Buddhist emphasis on the Middle Way not only provides a unique guideline for ethics but it has also allowed Buddhism to peacefully coexist with various local beliefs, customs, and institutions in adopted countries for most of its history. List of Buddhism related topic in comparative studies
References Notes # Note|Sarvabuddhavishayavatarajnanalokalamkarasutra}} Sarvabuddhavishayavatarajñanalokalamkarasutra as cited by Elías Capriles in '' The Four Schools of Buddhist Philosophy : Clear Discrimination of Views Pointing at the Definitive Meaning. The Four Philosophical Schools of the Sutrayana Traditionally Taught in Tibet with Reference to the Dzogchen Teachings''. Published on the Web. # Note|ChNN_Dream_Yoga_book}} Chögyal Namkhai Norbu ''Dream Yoga And The Practice Of Natural Light''. Edited and introduced by Michael Katz, Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, NY, ISBN 1−55939−007−7, p. 42 # Note|Dr.A.Berzin_on_appearances}} Dr. A. Berzin. '' Alaya and Impure Appearance-Making '' # Note|Elas_Capriles_book1}} Elías Capriles. '' Buddhism and Dzogchen : the Doctrine of the Buddha and the Supreme Vehicle of Tibetan Buddhism. Part 1 - Buddhism: a Dzogchen Outlook''. Published on the Web. # Note|Sangha_TripleJewel}} Thanissaro Bhikkhu. '' Refuge: An Introduction to the Buddha, Dhamma, & Sangha ''. Third edition, revised, 2001 See also
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