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Buddhism
Buddhism is the only religion in the world which had originated in ancient India and it has now more followers in outside India. This religion comprises a various traditions, beliefs and practices; mostly the philosophy of the religion is based on teachings of Gautam Buddha known as Buddha, the enlightened one. The followers of Buddhism recognize Buddha as an enlightened one who discovered truths to overcome the suffering to attain nirvana.
Three main Philosophical Schools of Buddhism.
There are two main sects of Buddhism—the Theravada practiced in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia and parts of Southwest China and the Mahayana Buddhism which is practiced in Tibet, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Nepal and parts of Asia and the traditions of this sect include Pure Land, Zen, Nichiren Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Shingon, Tendai and Shinnyo-en. A third sect called Vajrayana Buddhism is also seen in some classifications, yet it is seen as an offshoot of Mahayana.
The Theravada Buddhism’s practice is based on texts written in the ancient Indian language of Pali. The main philosophy of this sect of schools believe in the original teachings as passed down to generation to generation of monks and Buddhist believers by the immediate disciples of Lord Buddha.
Within 600 years after Buddha’s death the Mahayana Buddhism recognized as a form of Buddhist philosophy. The textual traditions of Mahayana Buddhism are not found in the texts of Theravada Buddhism. The main thought of Mahayana Buddhism is based on the idea of Boddhisattvas or enlightened one.
The third Buddhist tradition is Vajrayana Buddhism which is considered as outcome of Mahayana Buddhism. The practitioners of this sect of Buddhism concentrate on developing distinctive practices in questing for enlightenment. This Buddhist tradition has been developed in Tibet, Nepal, northern India, Mongolia and parts of China.
Indian Buddhism :
The historical developments of Indian Buddhism are divided into five periods :
- Early Buddhism (also called Pre-Sectarian Buddhism)
- Nikaya Buddhism or Sectarian Buddhism
- Early Mahayana Buddhism
- Later Mahayana Buddhism
- Esoteric Buddhism ( also called Vajrayana Buddhism)
Pre-sectarian Buddhism :
All scholars recognize this earliest phase of Buddhism; the main scriptures of this early phase are Vinaya Pitaka and the four principal Nikayas or Agamas. The basic teachings of Buddha are found throughout the early texts, the teachings about karma and rebirth, the four noble truths, the eightfold paths, nirvana, etc.
Nikaya Buddhism (Early Buddhist schools) :
The first Buddhist council was held after the parinirvana. Like the other ancient traditions, the transmission of teaching was done orally. So the council was held to properly transmit the teachings without any errors. Ananda, a cousin of Buddha recited the discourses at the first council. According to some sources another disciple recited the monastic rules. Some scholars say that after the second council the Sangha broke into separate fractions. Then there were several schools of Buddhism. The root division was between the Sthaviras and Mahasanghikas. The Thevadara School was a part of Staviras. The root division was caused by doctrinal disagreements and monks follow different schools of thought.
Early Mahayana Buddhism :
The Early Mahayana Buddhism comprises the origins of Mahayana Buddhism and the Mahayana Sutras. However, the development of early Buddhist schools and arising of Mahayana Buddhism were not uninterrupted. The early school of Buddhism existed alongside Mahayana.
Origins of Mahayana :
It is considered that Mahayana became popular in the 5th century BC. Mahayana movement has its origin in a marginalized group of monks who lived in the forest or a group of conservatives rooted in mainstream. The early Mahayana literature is ascetic and states the ideal of the monk’s life in the forest. Most of the Buddhist scholars say that the Mahayana Buddhism continued as a marginal movement till the 5th century AD.
The earliest sutras of Mahayana Buddhism are known as Proto-Mahayana sutras which comprise both Mahayana and pre-Mahayana ideas.
Late Mahayana Buddhism :
The thoughts developed during the period of Late Mahayana Buddhism are Madhyamaka, Yogacara, Tathagatagarbha, and Buddhist Logic. The main two philosophical schools of Mahayana in India are Madhyamaka and the later Yogacara. The common beliefs of the two sects of Indian Mahayana sects are based on early Buddhism.
Vajrayana (Esoteric Buddhism) :
The research on esoteric Buddhism is still in the infant stage. The Vajrayana Buddhism was said to be influenced by Hinduism. There are no scriptures put in order till now.