| Just like there are many different | | | | |
| denominations of Christianity - including | | | | The second type of Buddhism that is mentioned |
| Protestant churches and Catholicism, the | | | | is Eastern Buddhism, also known as Mahayana |
| different types of Buddhism reflect the way | | | | Buddhism. This sect not only teaches the Pali |
| that this religion is practiced. | | | | Canon (which is the religious text of |
| | | | Theraveda Buddhism) but also includes |
| Buddhism is a dharmic religion and form of | | | | additional texts and beliefs. In order to |
| spirituality that revolves around certain | | | | reach Nirvana, Mahayana Buddhists believe |
| beliefs and practices - all of which are | | | | that a person must practice universal |
| aimed at bringing the participant closer to | | | | compassion, which is the altruistic quest of |
| Buddhahood - the highest level of spiritual | | | | the Bodhisattva to attain the "Awakened Mind" |
| awareness. However, because the religion has | | | | of Buddhahood. Mahayana Buddhism also has a |
| gained followers in several different parts | | | | level of mysticism involved. This type of |
| of the world (mostly in Asia), the way that | | | | Buddhism is practiced in China, Korea and |
| Buddhism is practiced has split into several | | | | Japan, as well as parts of other Asian |
| different sects. All of the Buddhist sects | | | | countries. |
| believe certain things in common: all accept | | | | |
| Buddha as their teacher, use the Four Noble | | | | The third of the different types of Buddhism |
| Truths and the Eightfold Path in their | | | | is Northern or Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan |
| teachings, and believe that Buddhahood is the | | | | Buddhism is also considered to be a type of |
| highest attainment. | | | | Mahayana Buddhism, but it also embraces other |
| | | | teachings, texts and practices that are not |
| Most scholars divide the different types of | | | | seen in the Eastern type of Mahayana |
| Buddhism into three sections. The first of | | | | Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism is also sometimes |
| these is Southern Buddhism, or Theraveda | | | | called Tantric Buddhism or Vajrayana. This |
| Buddhism. The word Theraveda is a word in the | | | | type of Buddhism uses both the Mahayana and |
| Pali language (thought to be spoken by the | | | | Theraveda scriptures, as well as a number of |
| Buddha) that means "the Doctrine of the | | | | Buddhist Tantras - all of which are aimed at |
| Elders". The biggest aim in the Theraveda | | | | attaining Buddhahood in just one lifetime |
| practice is to use meditation to train the | | | | instead of requiring many reincarnations. |
| mind, and to encourage freedom of the mind | | | | |
| from suffering. This freedom from suffering | | | | While all of the different types of Buddhism |
| will allow you to reach the greatest | | | | have the same goal and same basis for their |
| spiritual goal - Nirvana. Theraveda Buddhism | | | | beliefs, the way that Buddhahood is obtained |
| is the only surviving school from the | | | | varies from sect to sect. It is important to |
| earliest years of Buddhism, and it is mostly | | | | understand the way that each sect works |
| practiced today in Sri Lanka, Laos and | | | | before choosing to practice a type of |
| Cambodia. | | | | Buddhism. |