Essay Mahayana Buddhism - 1396 Words

History proves that as Buddhism spread throughout the Asian world in the early 1st century, it was occasionally altered to fit the specific needs and beliefs of people it touched. Mahayana Buddhism is one such example of this gradual evolution. It was primarily a movement started and kept alive by monks that slowly gained popularity amongst lay people but was in no way a unified movement. Mahayana Buddhism still adheres to the basic fundamental beliefs presented in the Pali Canons, however, it Sutras often expand upon these basic ideas and traditions in order to answer the questions of a later generation. After closer study of the Mahayana texts the â€Å"A Sutra for Long Life† and â€Å"The World Universe as a Sutra†, it seems†¦show more content†¦The best members of the laity could hope for was a rebirth as a monk or a nun. Mahayana Buddhism makes enlightenment an obtainable goal for all not just the clergy; furthermore, the notion of an â€Å"inner Buddhaho od† provides a greater connection to the Buddha and his teachings for its followers. The truth is within reach for all, they just have to look within themselves to find and accept it. The sutras also make clear the idea of the Bodhisattva, those who have reached awakening and refrain from entering Nirvana in order to help others along the path. For example, the TathÄ gata is described as a person with â€Å"penetrating wisdom, and was endowed with a perfectly pure divine eye† (World Universe as a Sutra, 109). The TathÄ gata has already found the knowledge and truth within himself and is therefore able to see that the same wisdom is present within every being. He finds it strange that every being cannot see the truth within, and therefore, takes it upon himself to â€Å"teach these beings so that they may fully awaken within the Noble path.† This is known as the â€Å"tenth intuition of Bodhisattvas†, where the Bodhisattvas â€Å"practice, know and per ceive†, the minds of the awakened inShow MoreRelatedTheravada And Mahayana Buddhism And Buddhism1433 Words   |  6 Pagesschisms of Buddhism due to different outlooks on the fundamental teachings and ideas of Buddhism. The two that have survived and are still current today are Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism is often found in southern locations, which include Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and parts of Southeast Asia (Mitchell, pp. 91). Mahayana Buddhism, however, is found in the northern areas of the world, such as: Tibet, China, Taiwan, Japan, and more. 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