History
of Buddhism - the Schools
Buddhism has basically divided into three streams. These streams correspond to four definite divisions in Buddhism history
THE OLD WISDOM- the first 500 years
1. The Pre-Sectarian Movement. Sometimes called Pali Buddhists.....Basic Buddhists These are the practicioners who follow Buddha's earliest teachings, before the movement divided into schools and sect and became dogmatized by cultural influences. Some of these practitioners are very fundamentalist accepting literally only what is in the Pali texts - Read about Orthodox Buddhism - others are very liberal, adapting the teachings to modern times and culture.
2. The Theravada. This movement is based on the Pali texts and is the earliest school established in Buddhism. The goal of Theravada is to achieve wisdom and enlightenement alone..the path of the Arhant. Theravada thrives in the southern countries
THE NEW WISDOM - starting around 100 CE
3. The Mahayana. This movement includes Chinese schools (C'han), Japanese Zen and the Vajrayana schools of Tibet. The mahayana started as a breakaway sect around 100 BC and was fully established in China by 300 AD. The difference from Theravada is that the Mahayana's emphasize the role of the Bodhisattva..the enlightened being who chooses to remain in the cycle of rebirth in order to help other beings to enlightenment..an example created by Buddha himself. The Mahayana also rely on extensive elaboration of the original pali texts known as the Mahayana Sutras
THE TANTRA - starting around 600 CE
4. Vajrayana- Tibetan Buddhism. This practice involves magic, occult and secrecy. Followers are first initiated then receive the teachings 'by transmission' from a yogi-guru-lama. Tantra involves extensive ritual, chanting, visualization, magic adn diety worship
What is Tibetan Buddhism?
THE CURRENT ERA - Western Buddhism starting around the mid 19th century
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Read
the Teachers
Huston Smith - The main characteristics of original Buddhism
