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Mahayana
"The Great Vehicle"
Founded
in the 1st cent CE, the "Great Vehicle" is more liberal and varied
than Theravada Buddhism.
Mahayana
sects use additional texts (sutras) written by later Buddhist teachers who
founded various schools or sects. They offer expanded interpretation of the
Buddha’s teachings, claiming these teachings to have been "secret"
and advanced over the original Pali Cannon
followed more strictly by Theravada Buddhism. The Lotus Sutra is most
popular and the basis for several Mahayana sects. The lotus flower has as many
petals as there are Buddhas (seemingly endless). The Lotus also rises from the
mud as we can rise to Buddhahood from the muck and mire of samsara.
Important
Mahayana concepts:
Buddha
Nature:
Mahayana
teaches that within all beings lies the "Buddha Nature" - the
innate potential to become a Buddha, an enlightened one. One need not be a
monk to attain Nirvana. So in Mahayana Buddhism the focus is on lay practice
with priests or ministers who also lead "householder"
lives rather than taking monastic vows.
The
"Bodhisattva ideal":
Unlike
Theravada (where each is responsible for his or her own enlightenment),
Mahayana expresses an ethic of universal compassion and concern for others.
Enlightenment is sought not just for one’s personal gain but to help others
become enlightened. This is the "Bodhisattva Ideal" that is the
hallmark of Mahayana Buddhism.
A
Bodhisattva is an "enlightened (Bodhi) being (Sat)." A
bodhisattva is on the way to becoming a full fledged buddha but, out of
compassion for others, foregoes his or her own further enlightenment and entry
into nirvana/parinirvana so as to remain an independent sentient being so as
to help others.
This
"Bodhisattva ideal" is a goal in Mahayana. A Bodhisattva can
be a living human being (e.g. the Tibetan Lamas) but also a being in some
other spiritual realm who can be prayed to. There are many Bodhisattvas, a
favorite in China is the feminine Kuan-Yin, the bodhisattva of mercy
and compassion also known by other names (Avalokitesvara, etc.) in
other lands. In Japan, Amida (Amitabha) of the "Pure
Land" school is popular.
Trikaya:
Another
teaching of Mahayana Buddhism is an understanding of the concept of buddha
that goes beyond the historical Siddahrtha Gautama. This is the
"Three-bodied-Buddha" (Trikaya) (Buddhist trinity). Trikaya
includes...
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The
"Buddha of transformation" which "incarnates"
as the historical Buddha (Siddhartha) as well as other Buddhas past,
present and future. Maitreya Buddha is the expected future Buddha
(a concept not unlike the Hindu Kalkin, Jewish Messiah, Christian
"Second Coming," etc.). (this is the Buddhist equivalent of
Jesus)
-
The
"Bliss-body Buddha" manifests as heavenly Buddhas or
Bodhisattvas, existing on other realms to help those who ask. (like
guardian angels or saints in heaven)
-
The
"Buddha-Dharma" - the essence of Truth (Dharma, wisdom)
and compassion in and beyond all creatures enabling any creature to reach
Buddhahood. (like the Godhead - an impersonal, universal principle)
Sunyata
(emptiness)
Nirvana
is empty, Samsara (being transitory) is empty, meditation seeks to empty the
self of ego, of thoughts, of emotions so as to enable the Buddha-Nature to
shine through. A concept perhaps picked up from Chinese Taoism wherein
"to be empty is to be filled." Emptiness is useful as is an empty
box or an empty glass - it has all potential to be filled and used.
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