Hinayana and Mahayana

When Buddha dies it's time for his disciples to spread his teachings. Since the disciples have lived like monks together with Buddha, this quickly becomes the only way to live for the Buddhists. To be enlightened -- reach Nirvana -- one needs to be a monk or a nun. So the monastic community -- the Sangha -- grows. But a couple of hundred years later some people reconsider this: "Hold on, not everyone can be monks or nuns, can they?

We have families to care for, and other kinds of lives to live, but still it must be possible for us too, to become enlightened!" So a Buddhism for everyone - the lay people - starts growing. This new group expresses it in ways that go something like this: "The others are going in a much too small vehicle. We need a greater vehicle that everyone can fit into." So they call themselves "the great vehicle": Mahayana. They call the first group: "The small vehicle": Hinayana. This makes the first group somewhat angry. "We are no 'small vehicle' we are "The 'school of the elders' - Theravada." But is there so much that distinguishes the two groups from each other?

Even if Mahayana is open to all, they also believe that the monastic community is important. But not as important as Theravada think it is. Let's take a look at this Theravada monk and this Mahayana nun and see what they believe. They both pray the same prayer - the three refuges: I take refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in the Dharma.

I take refuge in the Sangha. But do they both mean the same thing with this prayer? When this monk says 'Buddha', he means: Siddharta Gautama. So does this nun - sometimes - but more often she means another Buddha. So Mahayana believes there is more than one Buddha?

Yes. So does Theravada as well. They just don't think this is very important. "The important thing is to study the teachings, meditate, and reach Nirvana. No-one else can help you with this." Among the other Buddhas that are important in Mahayana is the future Buddha: Maitreya, and perhaps their most beloved Buddha: Amitabha. "Amitabha lives in one of the heavens -- Sukhavati." Wow, now there really is a lot to take in. Sukhavati?

One of the heavens? So there are several heavens in Mahayana? Is that true for Theravada as well? Yes, but it's not that important. According to Mahayana, "Sukhavati is one of the best heavens.

A lot of people would like to be reborn there." This is totally wrong, Theravada thinks, because: "The important thing is to reach Nirvana instead of being reborn somewhere else. No-one can help you with this!" This Mahayana doesn't agree on: "But yes, The Bodhisattvas can help!" "Well," says Theravada "Though this is true, the Bodhisattvas are not that important." And what is a Bodhisattva? The Bodhisattvas are those who become enlightened in one lifetime and have the possibility of reaching Nirvana and escaping rebirth - but choose to be reincarnated to another life. Why? To be able to help other people to reach enlightenment.

Wow, this was tricky. We had better summarize. So both groups follow the teachings of Buddha, but Hinayana... Sorry! Theravada puts more emphasis on the importance of being a monk or a nun.

Mahayana also believes that the monastic community is important - just not as important since they feel that Buddhism is also for lay people. Ordinary people can also become enlightened. Mahayana believes in several Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and heavens. This is true for Theravada as well. It's just not as important.

Because: "The important thing is to study the teachings, meditate, and reach Nirvana. No-one else can help you with this."