Theravada and Mahayana   By Mr Ng Choo Teck

Teaching of the Buddha 
Northern Schools
Southern Schools
Mahayana
Hinayana
Theravada  
Bodhisattva
Arahanta
Bodhisattva
Arahanta
The Six Perfection
(Six Paramis)

The Four Stages 
of Sainthood
The Ten Perfection
(Ten Paramis)
The Four Stages 
of Sainthood
Three ultimate goals of a Buddhist  
1. Arahantas (saints) – Savaka-Bodhi – Enlightenment of a disciple
2. Pacceka Buddhas
(Silent-Buddhas)
 – Pacceka-Bodhi – Self-Enlightenment during those period when the Teaching does not exist, lacks power to purify others.
3. Samma-SamBuddhas
(Supreme Buddha)

 – Samma-SamBodhi- Fully-Enlightened by own effort and able to expound the Dharma to purify other beings.
Three types of Bodhisattvas (Enlightened-Being)
Intellectual (Pannadhika) – Less devotional and more energetic
Devotional (Saddhadhika) – Trustful confidence is predominant, keen interest in all forms of homage
Energetic (Viriyadhika) – Always seeking opportunities to be a service to others
Differences in the Perfections
Paramitta (10 for Theravada) Parami (6 for Mahayana)
1. Dana – generosity
2. Sila – morality
3. Nekkhamma – renunciation
4. Panna – wisdom
5. Viriya – energy / perseverence
6. Khanti – patience
7. Sacca – truthfulness
8. Ashitthana – resolute determination
9. Metta – loving kindness
10. Upekkha – equanimity		 1. Dana – generosity
2. Sila – morality
3. Nekkhamma – renunciation
4. Panna – wisdom
5. Khanti – patience
6. Ashitthana – resolute determination



 
Ten Major Sects in China
 
 1. Reality or Kosa  or Abhidharma Sect
Hinayana
 2. Satysiddhi or Cheng-se Sect
Hinayana
 3 Three Sastra or San-lun Sect
Mahayana
 4. The Lotus  or T’ien-t’ai Sect (it absorbed the Nirvana Sect)
Mahayana
 5.

 The Garland or Hua-yen  or Avatamsaka Sect 
(it absorbed the Dasabhumika and the Samparigarhasastra Sects)
Mahayana
 6. Intuitive or Cha’n or Dhyana Sect
Mahayana
 7. Discipline or Lu or Vinaya Sect
Mahayana
 8. Esoteric or Chen-yien or Mantra Sect
Mahayana
 9. Dharmalaksana or Ch’u-en or Fa-siang Sect
Mahayana
10. Pure-land or Sukhavati or Ching-t’u Sect
Mahayana

The principles of all the above Sects are based on the partial doctrine of Sakyamuni Buddha. 
 In the beginning, there were no such things as Sects in Buddhism.  
The disciples of Buddha, however, took up what had been most beneficial and most practicable to them. Thus ten Sects evolved.

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