Schools of Buddhism as discussed by Harsh Kumar
Background
Buddhism was flourished around the 6th century BC in Indian subcontinent when one of the greatest teachers of all time, Buddha propagated his ideas. But after the death of Buddha, the conflict of views started to give birth to the different type of schools under Buddhism. As a result of these division, Buddhism started to decline after flourishing for more than 1000 years as it lost it mass appeal. The major schools of Buddhism include the Hinayana Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism and Vajrayana Buddhism.
Also Read : Buddhism – Spread & Popularity and Its Decline
Jainism – The Philosophy and Teachings
Hinayana Buddhism
Hinayana means lower vehicle. This school follows the original preaching of the Buddha, so, more of an orthodox school. They did not believe in the idol or image worship of Buddha. They believe in individual salvation which to be attain with self-discipline and meditation to attain the ultimate goal of Nirvana. They use Pali language to interacted with the masses. One of the major followers of Hinayana Buddhism was ‘The Great Ashoka’ as Mahayana sect yet to be emerged during this age. But it is very unfortunate that in present time the original form of Hinayana sect is almost non-existent.
Mahayana Buddhism
Mahayana means the greater vehicle. This school was more liberal and believes in the heavenliness of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas embodying Buddha nature. Their ultimate goal is to attain “spiritual upliftment”. They believed in the idol or image worship of Buddha. Mahayana also known as “Bodhisattvayana”. They believe in the universal liberation from suffering of all beings.
Bodhisattvas seeks complete enlightenment for the benefits of all beings, who accomplished this goal came to known as Samyaksambuddha. Lotus Sutra and Mahavamsa are among the major texts of Mahayana sect. As per Lotus Sutra, Mahayana school believes in six perfections to be followed by an individual; Dana (generosity), Sila (virtue, morality, discipline and proper conduct), Ksanti (patience, tolerance, acceptance), Virya (energy, diligence, vigor, effort), Dhyana (one-pointed concentration) and Prajna (wisdom and insight).
They prominently used Sanskrit language to propagate their ideas. Emperor Kanishka of Kushana Dynasty is said to be founder of the Mahayana sect. Today, majority of the world Buddhist followers belonged to the Mahayana sect.
Theravada Buddhism
Theravada refers to the school of old monks. This school is a sub-sect of the Hinayana Buddhism. This school uses the Buddha’s teaching preserved in the Pali Canon as its doctrinal core. In Theravada, the ultimate goal is the cessation of the kleshas which include state of mind such as anxiety, fear, anger, jealousy, desire, depression, etc. According to the Theravada tradition. Samantha and Vipassana form integral part of the Noble Eight-fold path prescribed by the Buddha.
Samantha deals with calming the mind and Vipassana means insight into the three marks of existence: impermanence, suffering and realization of non-self. They believed in the concept of vibhajjavada i.e., “teaching of analysis”. Visuddhimagga (the path of purification) is the greatest treatise on Theravada Buddhist school, written by Buddhaghosa in the 5th century AD in Sri Lanka.
It discussed the seven stages of purification to be followed to attain the salvation. Pali is the sacred language to the Theravada Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism is contemplated to be the successor of the Hinayana Buddhism. Around 35 percent of the world Buddhist population followed the Theravada sect, from which mainly belonged to the countries of South-East Asia.
Vajrayana Buddhism
Vajrayana is also known as the Tantric Buddhism and this is a sub-sect of Mahayana Buddhism. Scholars contemplate that Vajrayana school developed as a result of royal courts sponsoring both Buddhism and Hinduism, i.e., they say, it was influenced by Hinduism. The main deity was Tara. It involved combining Brahmanical (Veda based) rituals with Buddhist philosophies. It based on the Mahayanist Buddhist philosophy.
This school believes in Tantra’s, Mantra’s and Yantra’s superiority due to being a faster vehicle to liberation containing many skillful methods of tantric ritual. According to this school, the mantra is an easy way to achieve the Buddhahood without facing the difficulties like perfections of Theravada Buddhism or Paramitas under Mahayana. Around 5.7 percent of world Buddhist followers belongs to this sect. Mainly dominated in Tibet, Mongolia, Bhutan, Kalmykia.
Prominent Disciple of Buddha in Ancient Period
Sariputta – chief disciple
Mahamoggallana – chief disciple
Ananda – listened to Buddha teachings the most among others
Mahakasyapa
Purna Maitrayani-putra
Amuruddha
Rahul
Katyayana
Upali
Anathapindaka
Subhuti
Jivaka
Thus, all these disciples of the Buddha also help in propagating the ideas of Buddhism and it became one of the largest followed religions of the world population.