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**drgshmcm** · 08-23-2010, 02:57 PM

From the forum of Lama Shenpen Rinpoche's Dharmaling Congregation:

smokey, on 13 June 2010 - 10:25 PM, said:

What is the Difference between Theravada and Mahayana with regards to Meditation, Doctrine - Dhamma/Dharma and Discipline - Vinaya?

The difference is mainly in the motivation. Bodhicitta is often translated as "compassion", but it's much more than that. It's about reaching Enlightenment for the sake of the others. Therefore, the methods also differ. Theravada practitioners will focus on reaching Nirvana, Emptiness, and once reached, will remain in it for eons! Mahayana practitioners will focus on helping others, wishing to reach omniscience for the sake of the others, reaching Emptiness as a means, not a goal.

So, Mahayana teaches that there is an equal importance in practicing the skilful means and the Wisdom, included in the 6 Perfections (ie. Generosity, Patience, Ethics, Enthusiastic perseverance, Concentration, and Wisdom).
As regard to Vinaya/Code of ethics, the vows and commitments are nearly the same. Without Ethics, no progress, no accumulation of merits.

The Vajrayana Path is based on Mahayana. It adds some specific practices to transform every moment in practice, transforming the perceptions, the energies directly into the pristine nature of the Buddha practiced.

Lama Shenpen Rinpoche
---
"For as long as space endures, And as long as living beings remain,
Until then may I too abide, To dispel the misery of the world." (Arya Shantideva)

08-23-2010, 02:57 PM	#17
drgshmcm Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 403 Senior Member	From the forum of Lama Shenpen Rinpoche's Dharmaling Congregation: smokey, on 13 June 2010 - 10:25 PM, said: What is the Difference between Theravada and Mahayana with regards to Meditation, Doctrine - Dhamma/Dharma and Discipline - Vinaya? The difference is mainly in the motivation. Bodhicitta is often translated as "compassion", but it's much more than that. It's about reaching Enlightenment for the sake of the others. Therefore, the methods also differ. Theravada practitioners will focus on reaching Nirvana, Emptiness, and once reached, will remain in it for eons! Mahayana practitioners will focus on helping others, wishing to reach omniscience for the sake of the others, reaching Emptiness as a means, not a goal. So, Mahayana teaches that there is an equal importance in practicing the skilful means and the Wisdom, included in the 6 Perfections (ie. Generosity, Patience, Ethics, Enthusiastic perseverance, Concentration, and Wisdom). As regard to Vinaya/Code of ethics, the vows and commitments are nearly the same. Without Ethics, no progress, no accumulation of merits. The Vajrayana Path is based on Mahayana. It adds some specific practices to transform every moment in practice, transforming the perceptions, the energies directly into the pristine nature of the Buddha practiced. Lama Shenpen Rinpoche --- "For as long as space endures, And as long as living beings remain, Until then may I too abide, To dispel the misery of the world." (Arya Shantideva)
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