The Journey of Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of Buddha which are referred to as “Dharma” or “the Dharma.” Those who practice Buddhism engage in a spiritual journey to Nirvana, a state of complete enlightenment. Over time the Buddhist religion has evolved, fractured and adapted as the religion spread to the continent of Asia and around the globe. There are three main sects of Buddhism today along with 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.
The Theravada or “doctrine of the Elders” was established around 300 BC.. Based on the teachings of Buddha, it encouraged it’s followers to teach the mind to eliminate suffering through the use of meditation with the goal of achieving Buddhahood. Theravada Buddhism established the canon of Buddhist scriptures and the Ten Precepts which govern the lifestyle of Buddhist monks.
Theravada Buddhism originated 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 adapted to include the religious beliefs of the various geographic regions. It is still practiced in Sri Lanka, Laos and Cambodia today.
Mahayana, or Eastern Buddhism, expands the Pali Canon and includes other religious texts and philosophies that encourage altruism and the need to live a life of universal compassion. This is central to their belief in an “Awakened mind.” Mahayana Buddhism is most popular in Korea, Japan and China. It incorporates elements of mysticism and cosmology. 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. Vajrayana teaches that it is possible to achieve Buddhahood in a single lifetime without the journey of 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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