What are the different kinds of Buddhism, and what are the differences?
 

I'm having difficulty understanding *what* the differences are. How can I choose to adhere to one without knowing what they are? :p

Another question: I know that Buddhism has a kind of scripture: the dialogues of Buddha, right? So where can I get a copy of them? It's not like picking up a Bible, I'm assuming.

Greetings

In Buddhism today there is Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana

Theravada is the oldest and the closest to the original teachings of the Buddha

Mahayana developed a few centuries after the Buddha died

Vajrayana developed out of Mahayana




Theravada teaches the Four Noble Truths, Three marks of existence and sticks to the pali cannon Suttas which are the oldest record of what the Buddha said. Theravada aims at Arahantship, which is enlightenment on par with what the Buddha achieved. There is no difference between the enlightenment of an Arahant or the Buddha

Mahayana also accept the pali suttas and four noble truths etc however the major difference is the shift away from the Arahant ideal to the concept of being a Bodhisattva. This is a being who chooses to stay in samsara in order to help others become enlightened. Mahayana also uses the Mahayana Sutras which were not spoken by Buddha and were written centuries after he had died

This school includes Zen, Pure land Buddhism etc


Its worth noting as well that the Bodhisattva ideal and the concept of delaying enlightenment to help others is not a teaching that is found in the pali suttas but seems to very much be a later idea that developed


Vajrayana claims to be the highest path. It is Mahayana in the sense of having the Bodhisattva ideal and Mahayana Sutras. However it also uses tantric practices and claims to be the fastest path to enlightenment


Tibetan Buddhism is Vajrayana



As for the "bible" of Buddhism, this would be the pali suttas


You can find some online here (although the translations are not always great)

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/


If you want a hard copy with good translation then I would buy

Majjhima Nikaya - The Middle length discourses of the Buddha

Samyutta Nikaya - The Connected Discourses of the Buddha

Digha Nikaya - The long Discourses of the Buddha


Hope that was helpful

There's also a pinned article "Theravada-Mahayana" in General Buddhist Discussions which you might like to read, OpenMindedGirl.

I think its a good idea to first investigate the core teachings of the Buddha carefully and take your time before choosing a tradition.

Additionally there's a helpful, short article here in the Beginners forum which you might like to read, called 'What is Buddhism?' - but its not about different traditions. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/grin.gif

Hi OpenMindedGirl
I'm new to Buddhism and over the last year I've read many Buddhist books for the beginners the one that I would recommend is
"Buddhism from Within" by Rev. Daizui MacPhillamy.
http://www.amazon.com/Buddhism-Withi...0710307&sr=8-1
There's no rush to find a tradition, let the tradition find you.
Metta
Gary http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/hands.gif

Hi OMG,

Maybe Zen found me... or we met together... don't know... but I practice Soto Zen which main concern is sitting meditation known as Zazen and Shikantaza. If you feel meditation at the core of your needs so to develop mindfulness and Right View, I highly recommend the Soto Zen tradition.

Soto shares some Mahayana literature but has been set appart form any sort of idealism, mainly the one of the Bodhisattva. Our main Ancestor is Dogen Zenji and many of our ceremonies we perform at the dojo are around his teachings like the Bendowa, Genjo Koan and the Eight Satoris. Also we have some other teachings left by earlier Ancestors like "The Sandokai" written by Sekito Kisen; Seng Ts-an's On The Faith of Mind and the writings of Bodhidharma at the foundations of Zen understanding and the Ten Bulls which are a the guidelines to develop mindfulness in accordance to Zen.

Particularly, the Soto School with which I practice, founded by Taizan Maetzumi Roshi, works with the main teachings of the Buddha; the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Noble Path with Zazen and Shikantaza as the core practice. We are not entangled with Rebirth and Kamma issues; we consider them as non fundamental concepts for the practice of sitting meditation; but we do not deny them.

More less this is about the tradition I have embraced.

Here are members that hold different traditions so you can have a wide perspective of what the historical Buddha taught.

A wonderfull book, in my opinion, is Zen Flesh, Zen Bones by Paul Reps. This book is not a particular opinion of an assumed enlightened Roshi but is a wonderfull collection of the foremost wonderfull Zen literature that brings you the chance to develop your own insight. This book comments the 10 Bulls in a beautiful way... so I would like to share the first one with you anytime you maybe are at the search into what the Buddha taught:

The Search for the Bull

In the pasture of this world, I endlessly push
aside the tall grasses in search of the Bull.

Following unnamed rivers, lost upon the interpenetrating
paths of distant mountains,
my strength failing and my vitality exhausted,
I can not find the Bull.

I only hear the locusts chirring through the
forest at night.

Comment: The Bull never have been lost. What need is there to search? Only because of separation from my true nature, I fail to find him. In the confusion of the senses I lose even his tracks. Far from home, I see many crossroads, but which way is the right I know not. Greed and fear, good and bad entangle me.

Zen Flesh, Zen Bones,
Paul Reps

The relationship of a Zen teacher and a Zen student is just that... I is strange and uncommon to see a Roshi telling you what to do and where to go. So for people needed to have a very personal guidance Zen is not good.


http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.gif

I would suggest that you explore different traditions to see how they speak to you, no hurry to pick. You can meet with different centers in your area, read books, meet with teachers or representative of traditions and I think it will become clear for you. Have fun! http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.gif

Possibly the most useful book to reach me from the Mighty Amazon was Buddhism Without Beliefs by Stephen Batchelor.

It makes a lot of sense to me, and deftly skirts around the whole issue of Buddhist traditions - which is now causing me increased confusion as I start looking at different meditation groups...

Pete

What she said. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/grin.gif

Particularly because as far as I know, these teachings (the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path) are at the core of every kind of Buddhism there is.

My very simple advice is, take your time! All of the paths have so much to offer and there are so many kind of teachings to take from. Here's a simple but nice explanation of the nuts and bolts of the Buddha's teachings: http://www.justbegood.net/BasicBuddhism.htm.

Best,
Laura

I could not open the given link Laura,

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...milies/sad.gif

Very wise Gary.

Make sure the period at the end of the sentence isn't copied into the internet browser address bar. It should end "htm", not "htm."

Thanks daverupa!

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/tongue.gif

Go forth with the wisdom that the Buddha's teachings, and the teachings of enlightened ones who came after, are for the purpose of directly penetrating reality for yourself. At such time, they outlive their usefulness; the words are a poor substitute for the wisdom, the seeing for one's self. And so when looking for a tradition, be mindful that it is just a vehicle to get you to a destination. Do not cling too tightly to the vehicle or you'll miss the ride itself. :)

Apart from that, the choice of tradition is entirely yours. Who is to say the truth is only found in one of them, or that any are better than the others? They are different in much the same way that people are different. To each his own, and I hope you find the one that is best for you.

Namaste

Hello All,
Thank you for the great advice to let the tradition find me. This has been something I have been struggling with as I start my journey. But at the same time, I have gotten other advice that I should seek out a sangha as soon as possible. How would a newbie go about applying both sets of advice?

Thanks

Do you like being part of a group that meets face to face? If so, perhaps to join a sangha where you meet face to face will be right for you. If you are like me and tend to get a little nervous in a group, maybe you will prefer to be an Internet Buddhist, like me. Perhaps the most important thing is to decide for yourself which is right for you.

Snowmelt,
In general, I am like you with respect to group interaction. But at the same time, I worry that there are small details that I am missing as I begin my practice...small details that someone may quickly be able to point out to me. So I do feel there is value to meeting face to face. This then leads to my primary dilemma. It seems you need to decide on a tradition before you would join a sangha. Does anyone know if they would allow attendance without commitment to their tradition/sect?

Then there is my second dilemma. The diversity of sanghas are very slim within an hour's drive of my house. So to get the face to face experience, geography may play a part in a tradition selection.

Thanks
Rick

Hi NoRegrets and welcome,

You don't usually need to be commited to a tradition to be able to go to their talks and meditation sessions. Just go along and take as long as you need to investigate the centre and its teachings carefully.

Its also worth investigating a little further afield to see what's available. When I first became interested in Tibetan Buddhism there weren't any centres of the type I was looking for anywhere near to where I lived - so I travelled to the other end of the country to stay at one during holiday times and some of my weekends. Eventually there was somewhere much nearer, but even then, I had to travel for 2 hrs on public transport to get there.

Now my tradition of choice has changed to the Theravada Thai Forest tradition, but it still takes me a couple of hours to get to the monastery I prefer to go to.

kind wishes,

A-D http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/grin.gif

I think A-D speaks wisely, Rick, and with experience of Buddhist groups that I lack. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/grin.gif

A-D and Snowmelt, thank you so much for your counsel. I have been reluctant to contact any with a concern that a lack of commitment may be viewed as false intent on my part. But I will give it a try.

Thanks