Posted: December 25th, 2022

Compare and contrast the goals of Hinayana Buddhism,

Compare and contrast the goals of Hinayana Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, and Zen Buddhism

Buddhism is one of the oldest religions in history. It began around 2500 years in Nepal, India. Several centuries later, there are over 500 million Buddhists all over the world. But Buddhism is not made of specific beliefs and practices. Years after Buddha’s death, three schools of Buddhism emerged; Theravada or Mahayana Buddhism, Hinayana Buddhism, and Zen Buddhism. The spread of Buddhism to new cultures worldwide resulted in traditions that differ significantly in terms of practice. But while the three have unique religious practices, they uphold Buddha’s basic teachings.

Hinayana/Theravada Buddhism

The Hinayana, popularly known as the school of elders, is the oldest school of Buddhism. It draws most of its teachings from Pali Canon, the oldest recorded teachings of Buddha. These teachings are featured in ancient Indian languages known as Pali. It is also the most conservative form of Buddhism and is governed by various strict rules, especially during mediation. Any new teachings outside the ancient teachings are not accommodated. People who practice Theravada focus on becoming an arhat or a true awakened being through the practice of meditation, contemplation of the Sutras, and upholding the eight noble teachings of Buddha. Today Theravada is most prevalent in Thailand, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Laos.

Mahayana Buddhism

Mahayana is the most popular form of Buddhism today. It is commonly practiced in China, Japan, Nepal, Korea, and Tibet. In Sanskrit, Mahayana translates to the “Great Vehicle,” a teaching of the Bodhisattva. A bodhisattva is an awakened being believed to have the ability to access nirvana, the state beyond suffering. Mahayana believers they can become Bodhisattva by observing the six perfections.

Compassion is also an essential virtue of Mahayana Buddhism. It is why most Bodhisattvas opt to delay the nirvana and stay within the cycle of Samsara to teach and guide other individuals. This is different from Theravada believers who aim to become Arhats and gain freedom from the Samsara cycle. Unlike Hinayana Buddhism, the Mahayana accommodates new teachings, traditions, and practices outside the Pali Canon. The two most upheld sutras of Mahayana Buddhism include the Heart Sutra and the Lotus Sutra.

Zen Buddhism

Zen Buddhism is believed to be a form of Mahayana Buddhism. It originated from China in the 5^th century, initially as Chan. Zen’s teachings and practiced were heavily influenced by the Taoist culture.  From China, Zen Buddhism traveled and spread to other regions, including Korea, Vietnam, and eventually reached Japan. Zen’s essence is to enable an individual to attain a direct understanding of life without any external interference. Most Zen teachings and practices are compatible with other faiths and are often incorporated by Christians seeking a deeper understanding of the Christian faith.

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Sihlé, Nicolas, and Patrice Ladwig. “Introduction: Legacies, trajectories, and comparison in the anthropology of Buddhism.” Religion and Society 8, no. 1 (2017): 109-128.