| The Mahayana, or "Great Vehicle", is a school of | | | | say that the Mahayana was concealed during several |
| Buddhism that changes the style, the tone and the | | | | centuries until the world was ready to receive it. |
| content of Buddhist practice in profound ways. It | | | | Then the Sutras, the texts of the Mahayana, were |
| opens up the practice of Buddhahood to lay people | | | | brought forth and spread across India. |
| as well as to monks and nuns. It also involves a far | | | | What is the teaching of the Mahayana? The |
| more extended vision of the cosmos than anything | | | | fundamental teaching of Mahayana Buddhism is what |
| that came before. | | | | is called the Boddhisattva Ideal. A Boddhisattva is a |
| The Mahayana movement emerged in the Indian | | | | Buddha-to-be, somebody who isn't a Buddha yet but |
| Buddhist community around the beginning of the | | | | plans to be one in a future life. A Boddhisattva in the |
| Common Era. Eventually, the Mahayana spread to | | | | Mahayana tradition doesn't attempt to go straight to |
| China, Tibet, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. | | | | Nirvana but he turns to this world and attempts to |
| The name Mahayana comes from the literature of | | | | help others along the path to salvation. This means |
| the movement itself. Mahayana texts refer to | | | | that Boddhisattvas can include lay men as well as |
| themselves as a great vehicle, in contrast to what | | | | monks and nuns, because all of us can be understood |
| they call the Hinayana, or lesser vehicle, that | | | | as being part of the path to Buddhahood. |
| preceded it. | | | | Boddhisattvas cultivate two virtues: Wisdom, a |
| The texts say that the Mahayana is the one great | | | | contemplative and quiet virtue, that has to do with |
| vehicle, the real teaching of the Buddha. All those | | | | understanding the nature of the self and the nature |
| other teachings that came before are preliminary | | | | of the world; and compassion, a virtue that has to |
| exercises that are meant to get a person started on | | | | do with actively seeking the welfare of others. The |
| the path to salvation, but are not meant to | | | | Mahayana always has this double aspect: |
| constitute the Buddha's final teaching. | | | | contemplation and action. |
| Where does this tradition come from? The texts | | | | If you are interested in knowing more about his |
| trace the origin of the Mahayana to what is called the | | | | Buddhist movements, its beliefs and practices, you |
| Second Turning of the Wheel of the Dharma during | | | | might be interested in visiting the following Web Site. |
| the life of the Buddha himself. In other words, the | | | | Here you will learn about this religious tradition |
| Mahayana texts claim to be the teaching of the | | | | through an interesting perspective. The author is |
| Buddha himself delivered to a special assembly of | | | | Pablo Antuna, an experienced professor of Eastern |
| boddhisattvas. The Mahayana texts then go on to | | | | Religions. |