On the major branches of Buddhism
Over time, many different branches of Buddhism developed. Around 100 BCE there were 18 canonical schools. They were mostly alike but observed some different monastic rules (called Vinayas). Today people talk confusedly about Buddhist schools. There are three major groupings: Southern, Northern and Eastern. The Southern School is usually called Theravada or Nikaya Buddhism. The Northern School is called Tibetan or Tantric or Vajjrayana Buddhism. The Eastern is usually called Mahayana Buddhism and includes Zen or Ch'an Buddhism. All of these names are problematic because Tibetan Buddhism also uses Mahayana texts and philosophy.
"Mahayana" is crucial to this class. Essentially, it is a philosophical current of Buddhism that emphasizes the "Bodhisattva Path." A Boddhisattva (Awakening Being) is a person or being on their way to becoming a Buddha. Bodhisattvas are known for their great compassion for all living things. In later texts they will often have marvelous powers.
If you compare the early Buddhist discourses with other things we will read later, you will see that these early texts do not often emphasize saving others but mostly looking after one's own awakening. All the texts we are reading (besides Early Buddhist Discourses) are considered Mahayana texts. Some were composed in India, others in China and Japan.
Over time, many different branches of Buddhism developed. Around 100 BCE there were 18 canonical schools. They were mostly alike but observed some different monastic rules (called Vinayas). Today people talk confusedly about Buddhist schools. There are three major groupings: Southern, Northern and Eastern. The Southern School is usually called Theravada or Nikaya Buddhism. The Northern School is called Tibetan or Tantric or Vajjrayana Buddhism. The Eastern is usually called Mahayana Buddhism and includes Zen or Ch'an Buddhism. All of these names are problematic because Tibetan Buddhism also uses Mahayana texts and philosophy.
"Mahayana" is crucial to this class. Essentially, it is a philosophical current of Buddhism that emphasizes the "Bodhisattva Path." A Boddhisattva (Awakening Being) is a person or being on their way to becoming a Buddha. Bodhisattvas are known for their great compassion for all living things. In later texts they will often have marvelous powers.
If you compare the early Buddhist discourses with other things we will read later, you will see that these early texts do not often emphasize saving others but mostly looking after one's own awakening. All the texts we are reading (besides Early Buddhist Discourses) are considered Mahayana texts. Some were composed in India, others in China and Japan.
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