Schools of Buddhism are classified in various ways. Normal English-language usage (as given in dictionaries) divides Buddhism into Theravada (also known by the name Hinayana, which many consider pejorative) and Mahayana. The most common classification among scholars is threefold, with Mahayana split into East Asian (also known simply as Mahayana) and Vajrayana, or Tibetan Buddhism (although Vajrayana properly includes the Japanese Shingon school). [edit] Classifications The Macmillan Encyclopedia of Religion distinguishes three types of classification of Buddhism: - Movements:
- Nikayas, or monastic fraternities, three of which survive at the present day:
- Doctrinal schools
[edit] Terminology The terminology for the major divisions of Buddhism can be confusing, as Buddhism is variously divided by scholars and practitioners according to geographic, historical, and philosophical criteria, with different terms often being used in different contexts. The following terms may be encountered in descriptions of the major Buddhist divisions: - Conservative Buddhism
- An alternative name for the early Buddhist schools.
- Early Buddhist Schools
- The schools into which Buddhism became divided in its first few centuries; only one of these survives as an independent school, Theravada
- East Asian Buddhism
- A term used by scholars[1][page needed] to cover the Buddhist traditions of Japan, Korea, Singapore and most of China and Vietnam
- Eastern Buddhism
- An alternative name used by some scholars[2][page needed] for East Asian Buddhism; also sometimes used to refer to all traditional forms of Buddhism, as distinct from Western(ized) forms.
- Esoteric Buddhism
- Usually considered synonymous with Vajrayana.[3] Some scholars have applied the term to certain practices found within the Theravada, particularly in Cambodia.[4][page needed]
- Hinayana
- Often interpreted as a pejorative term, used in Mahayana doctrine to denigrate its opponents.[5] It is sometimes used to refer to the early Buddhist schools, including the contemporary Theravada, although the legitimacy of this is disputed.[6] Its use in scholarly publications is controversial.[7] By the Mahayana schools and groups in China, Korea, Tibet, and Japan the term is felt to be only slightly pejorative, or not pejorative at all.[8] By some it is used with respect proper to teachings coming direct from the Buddha. The main use of the term in East Asian and Tibetan traditions is in reference to spiritual levels[9] regardless of school. The literal meaning of Hinayana can also be interpreted as "the small vehicle," referring to a raft meant to carry one person, as an arhat, to nirvana through their own effort, in contrast to the "large vehicle" of Mahayana meant to carry many there at once, piloted by a bodhisattva.
- Lamaism
- An old term, still sometimes used, synonymous with Tibetan Buddhism; widely considered derogatory.
- Mahayana
- A movement that emerged out of early Buddhist schools, together with its later descendants, East Asian and Tibetan Buddhism. Vajrayana traditions are sometimes listed separately. The main use of the term in East Asian and Tibetan traditions is in reference to spiritual levels[10][page needed] regardless of school.
- Mainstream Buddhism
- A term used by some scholars for the early Buddhist schools.
- Mantrayana
- Usually considered synonymous with Vajrayana.[11] The Tendai school in Japan has been described as influenced by Mantrayana.[10][page needed]
- Newar Buddhism
- A non-monastic, caste based Buddhism with patrilineal descent and Sanskrit texts.
- Nikaya Buddhism or schools
- An alternative term for the early Buddhist schools.
- Non-Mahayana
- An alternative term for the early Buddhist schools.
- Northern Buddhism
- An alternative term used by some scholars[2][page needed] for Tibetan Buddhism. Also, an older term still sometimes used to encompass both East Asian and Tibetan traditions. It has even been used to refer to East Asian Buddhism alone, without Tibetan Buddhism.
- Secret Mantra
- An alternative rendering of mantrayana, a more literal translation of the term used by schools in Tibetan Buddhism when referring to themselves.[12]
- Sectarian Buddhism
- An alternative name for the early Buddhist schools.
- Southeast Asian Buddhism
- An alternative name used by some scholars[13][page needed] for Theravada.
- Southern Buddhism
- An alternative name used by some scholars[2][page needed] for Theravada.
- Sravakayana
- An alternative term sometimes used for the early Buddhist schools.
- Tantrayana or Tantric Buddhism
- Usually considered synonymous with Vajrayana.[11] However, one scholar describes the tantra divisions of some editions of the Tibetan scriptures as including Sravakayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana texts[14] (see Buddhist texts). Some scholars[15][page needed], particularly François Bizot,[16] have used the term "Tantric Theravada" to refer to certain practices found particularly in Cambodia.
- Theravada
- The traditional Buddhism of Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and parts of Vietnam, China, India, Bangladesh and Malaysia. It is the only surviving representative of the historical early Buddhist schools. The term 'Theravada' is also sometimes used to refer to all the early Buddhist schools.[17]
- Tibetan Buddhism
- Usually understood as including the Buddhism of Tibet, Mongolia, Bhutan and parts of China, India and Russia, which follow the Tibetan tradition.
- Vajrayana
- A movement that developed out of Indian Mahayana, together with its later descendants. There is some disagreement on exactly which traditions fall into this category. Tibetan Buddhism is universally recognized as falling under this heading; many also include also the Japanese Shingon school. Some scholars[18][page needed], also apply the term to the Korean milgyo tradition, which is not a separate school. One scholar says, "Despite the efforts of generations of Buddhist thinkers, it remains exceedingly difficult to identify precisely what it is that sets the Vajrayana apart."[19]
[edit] Early schools  An image of Gautama Buddha with a swastika, a traditional Buddhist symbol of infinity, on his chest. Ananda, the Buddha's disciple, appears in the background. This statue is from Hsi Lai Temple. Numerous attempts have been made to tabulate these schools. Here is one.[citation needed] [edit] Twenty sects The following lists the twenty sects described as Hinayana in some Mahayana texts: Sthaviravada (上座部) split into the 11 sects: Sthaviravada─┬─ Haimavata──────────────────────────────────────────── └─ Sarvastivadin─┬─────────────────────────────────── ├ Vatsiputriya ─┬──────────────────── │ ├ Dharmottara─────── │ ├ Bhadrayaniya───── │ ├ Sammitiya──────── │ └ Channagirika───── ├ Mahisasaka─┬───────────────────── │ └ Dharmaguptaka────── ├ Kasyapiya──────────────────────── └ Sautrāntika────────────────────── Mahasanghika (大眾部) split into 9 sects: Mahasanghika─┬──────────────────────┬───── ├ Ekavyaharaka ├ Caitika ├ Lokottaravadin ├ Aparasaila ├ Kaukkutika └ Uttarasaila ├ Bahussrutiya └ Prajnaptivada [edit] Influences on East Asian schools The following later schools used the Vinaya of the Dharmaguptaka: The following involve philosophical influence: The different schools in Theravada often emphasize different aspects (or parts) of the Pali Canon and the later commentaries, or differ in the focus on (and recommended way of) practice. There are also significant differences in strictness or interpretation of the Vinaya. [edit] Tantric schools see also: Vajrayāna Subcategorised according to predecessors [edit] New Buddhist movements [edit] See also [edit] References - ^ B & G, Gethin, R & J, P & K
- ^ a b c Penguin, Harvey
- ^ Encyclopedia of Religion, Macmillan, New York, volume 2, page 440
- ^ Indian Insights, Luzac, London, 1997
- ^ Hinayana (literally, “inferior way”) is a polemical term, which self-described Mahayana (literally, “great way”) Buddhist literature uses to denigrate its opponents. - p. 840, MacMillan Library Reference Encyclopedia of Buddhism, 2004
- ^ Hinayana is a designation that has no clearly identifiable external referent - p. 840, MacMillan Library Reference Encyclopedia of Buddhism, 2004
- ^ The supposed Mahayana-Hinayana dichotomy is so prevalent in Buddhist literature that it has yet fully to loosen its hold over scholarly representations of the religion. - p. 840, MacMillan Library Reference Encyclopedia of Buddhism, 2004
- ^ It is also certain that Buddhist groups and individuals in China, Korea, Tibet, and Japan have in the past, as in the very recent present, identified themselves as Mahayana Buddhists, even if the polemical or value claim embedded in that term was only dimly felt, if at all., Macmillan Encyclopedia of Buddhism, 2004, page 492
- ^ Penguin Handbook, pages 378f
- ^ a b Penguin Handbook
- ^ a b Harvey, pages 153ff
- ^ Hopkins, Jeffrey (1985) The Ultimate Deity in Action Tantra and Jung's Warning against Identifying with the Deity Buddhist-Christian Studies, Vol. 5, (1985), pp. 159-172
- ^ R & J, P & K
- ^ Skilling, Mahasutras, volume II, Parts I & II, 1997, Pali Text Society, Lancaster, page 78
- ^ Indian Insights, loc. cit.
- ^ Crosby, Kate( 2000)'Tantric Theravda: A bibliographic essay on the writings of François Bizot and others on the yogvacara Tradition', Contemporary Buddhism, 1:2, 141—198[1]
- ^ Encyclopedia of Religion, volume 2, Macmillan, New York, 1987, pages 440f; Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, sv Buddhism
- ^ Harvey
- ^ Lopez, Buddhism in Practice, Princeton University Press, 1995, page 6
Coleman, Graham, ed. (1993). A Handbook of Tibetan Culture. Boston: Shambhala Publications, Inc.. ISBN 1-57062-002-4. Warder, A.K. (1970). Indian Buddhism. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. [edit] External links |
