Buddhist Schools: A broad overview

An informal broad overview of the Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Schools of Buddhism, including reference to key teachings and practices.

[@FunnyDaturaMan93]

Probably one of the better explanations of the sects of Buddhism I've seen. Good stuff on this channel.

[@namoamidabuts]

Thanks, Ian. -John

[@belami831]

This is the "best explanation"of the different buddhist sects and schools. Thank you for the thorough research Love it

[@namoamidabuts]

I wouldn't think it the "best", but I am very grateful for your feedback. Buddhism is a wonderful tradition, with many "paths" for seekers.

[@kyleraz9376]

I've been searching for a video like this for a long time. Thank you very much. You presented salient facts in an unbiased manner.

[@namoamidabuts]

That is what I tried to do. I am glad it came across that way to you. -John

[@carmenlidia13]

Acalaacla 🙏💫🙏🏽 Thank You, this is Definitely a Treasure... Thank You So Much for Sharing this Video with the Vast amount of Knowledge in so many areas, especially with The Lotus Sutra, Eight Fold Path and Four Noble Truths. Respectfully Respectful, Carmen L. R.

[@namoamidabuts]

Thank you for taking the time to give me feedback. I am happy to know that you found the content of this video to be useful and of interest. In Gassho, John

[@namoamidabuts]

Ian: I really appreciate you taking the time to give me feedback. -John

[@carmenlidia13]

Acalaacala 🙏💫🙏🏼💫🙏🏽 I Sincerely Wish To Thank You, for This Video, helping us to better grasp the different schools in Buddhism. Appreciate As well how you explain The Vast Knowledge Within, The Lotus Sutra & So Much More. (Especially Explaining the Eight Fold Path) Thank You So Very Very Much.

[@sashakarmayangchen6267]

acalaacala thank you Prof John. acal in hindi means beyond time... timeless...very apt just like your wonderful way of teaching. Keep it up Sir.🌼

[@namoamidabuts]

Thank you so much for your kind words and sincere encouragement, Sasha. I will indeed "keep it up" for as long as I am able. -John

[@GMANLOVE]

Just in regards to taking refuge in the buddah, what I've found is this quite often means taking refuge in the qualities of buddahood. Doesn't necessarily mean refuge in a real being or deity, which I personally find more accessible - so thought I'd share that this perspective is also practiced. Really enjoyed the video, thank you. Subscribed. 🙂

[@namoamidabuts]

I appreciate you sharing this perspective that will likely help others who may otherwise experience discomfort in a more traditional approach, to appreciate the meaning of taking refuge in an alternative more nuanced and (in my view) totally valid way. Thank you so much for your comment, and for your positive feedback, William. -John

[@WhitneyDahlin]

fascinating! loved this video so much! very helpful!

[@namoamidabuts]

Thank you so much, Whitney, for sharing your reaction. I am super-pleased that you found this video helpful! -John

[@WhitneyDahlin]

***** it totally explained so much that I was confused about! You're a very good teacher

[@PlaneCDR]

Great video. Thanks!

[@namoamidabuts]

I am glad you found it of interest.

[@java1708]

The talk is great, just one thing though, regardless whether it is Theravada school or Mahayana school, there is a common ground for both school of Buddhism is the 3 Universal Dharma Seals that is Impermanent, Emptiness, Non Self. For the teach to be true Buddhism, it always has these 3 seals. For the difference between 2 schools, the Theravada emphasize on liberating oneself, spiritual enlightenment at the highest level of Arhat. the Mahayana school emphasize going beyond not only liberating oneself but help liberating other by continuing the Boddisatva path until Perfect enlightentment, which is becoming Buddha

[@namoamidabuts]

Thank you for for your feedback and comment. As for the "3 seals", I read some Mahayana sutras as explicitly or implicitly teaching that these too are "empty". Examples would be in the Diamond Sutra where the Buddha cautions against becoming attached to emptiness, or in the Lotus and Sukhavati Sutras, where a Buddha asserts that his lifetime is infinite. Do you have any thoughts on this? -John

[@java1708]

Hi John, you're right, I heard some Zen master that cultivate beyond the emptiness, however practically speaking, not many of us as layman cultivate enough to the level of emptiness, let alone going beyond it. It is easier said than done I suppose. For example, we can theoretically understand that the 5 skandhas(aggregates) including body (form), sensation, perception, mental activity and conciousness are empty, but then when someone hit our bodily for instance, can we say it's no problem because it's empty, or when someone say something that hurt our feeling, can we say there is no sensation there. Or for example if we lost our precious possession such as house, car... can we say those forms are empty so we are absolutely ok with the loss. Even though I understand that the house does not have any essential nature because it is created by many conditions which are the builder, wood, stone and so on, without the builder, wood and stone, there would be no house. So the nature of the house is empty in itself. But still, when I lose the house that I THINK I possess, I'm still deeply painful. So I think it's almost impossible for most of us to actually realize this emptiness in daily life without a lot of cultivation That's why even though I love Zen Buddhism, I still cultivate pure land Buddhism as it is not enough time in this physical body to cultivate to enlightenment. To be rebirth on Pure land for continuing training is more appropriate. I'm glad that you also cultivate Pure land Buddhism. I just don't understand why not so many Westerners use this pure land Buddhism as powerful dharma door for existing 3 realms....

[@namoamidabuts]

I agree with your first paragraph 100% - very well stated. It is extraordinarily rare for anyone in our human form to be able to attain the perfect enlightenment and practices of a Buddha in this lifetime. As for the second paragraph, yes, I am a Pure Land Buddhist, but I specifically have identified with Shinran's Jodo Shinshu sect. I thus like to imagine that I will become a buddha immediately upon my death (rather than viewing the Pure Land as an opportunity for continuing training). Nonetheless, I feel that you and I are essentially "on the same page" as far as our spiritual experience and beliefs. I could say much about why Westerners are not more receptive to the Pure Land approach. It is, as you say, a "powerful dharma door" - however, many in the West who have steered away from Christianity are looking for something more "different", such as Zen or Tibetan Buddhism. Thank you again for your thoughtful comments. -John

[@java1708]

Thank you, I wish you all the best on on the cultivation

[@java1708]

It is usually true but NOT necessary. In the Buddha's time, I heard story of layperson who practice mediation and achieving very high level of sainthood

[@rayshepard4616]

Good morning, Dharma friend Have you ever published this chart you developed? It is a masterwork, as is this video. Namu Amida Butsu Gassho Ray

[@namoamidabuts]

I never published it, Ray. Honestly, I pulled it together from various sources. My purpose was to use it in a presentation on Buddhism to a World Religions class. Gassho, John

[@archielskoreanfood5973]

I am new with Buddhism.. can someone help me in where to start? And where I can join a group that teach online since temple is bit too far from me. Thank you

[@namoamidabuts]

Hello Elaine. I am glad you wish to learn more about Buddhism; it is a great tradition that has many paths within it. I am a lay Buddhist and do not set myself up as a teacher, but as you have questions I will do my best to provide answers or directions you can explore to find answers. It is good that you have discovered this particular video, because here I have kind of covered at least a crude description of some of the forms of Buddhism. Are you drawn to a meditation type of practice or more of a faith-oriented spiritual path? That might be a good question to start with. I am sorry that there is no temple in your area. I have the same dilemma. I am not so familiar with online teachers, but I would just caution you to be careful about hooking up with one that is narrow in his or her approach until you perhaps have a better idea of what approach is attractive and meaningful to you. Or if you do find and "join" an online group that you experience as not helpful, I recommend that you feel free to leave it for another. Anyhow, I hope these few comments help. -John

[@Sawo-500]

Also , Laos is a Theravada Buddhist country

[@namoamidabuts]

Thank you for this addition.

[@Sawo-500]

@@namoamidabuts You are welcome

[@mandog1872]

stregnth is found in buddhism... stregnth that comith from thine loins!!!lol :D :) buddhism should be taught in schools really, but detatchment can be dangerous.. I only hope you find oneness and stregnth, purity and light... the transmition of mind by huang poe helped me alot, it opens peace. The Master said to me: All the Buddhas and all sentient beings are nothing but the One Mind, beside which nothing exists. This Mind, which is without beginning is unborn 1 and indestructible. It is not green nor yellow, and has neither form nor appearance. It does not belong to the categories of things which exist or do not exist, nor can it be thought of in terms of new or old. It is neither long nor short, big nor small, for it transcends all limits, measures, names, traces and comparisons. It is that which you see before you-begin to reason about it and you at once fall into error. It is like the boundless void which cannot be fathomed or measured. The One Mind alone is the Buddha, and there is no distinction between the Buddha and sentient things, but that sentient beings are attached to forms and so seek externally for Buddhahood. By their very seeking they lose it, for that is: using the Buddha to seek for the Buddha and using mind to grasp Mind. Even though they do their utmost for a full aeon, they will not be able to attain to it. They do not know that, if they put a stop to conceptual thought and forget their anxiety, the Buddha will appear before them, for this Mind is the Buddha and the Buddha is all living beings. It is not the less for being manifested in ordinary beings, nor is it greater for being manifested in the Buddhas.. :) :) :) 0.0

[@namoamidabuts]

Thank you for your comment and dharma-quote.

[@TheNeilDarby]

What makes you say that Vajrayana blurs distinctions between good and evil? Just curious.

[@namoamidabuts]

Well, keeping in mind that I am far from being an expert, my impression is that Vajrayana, at least in how it has been interpreted in Tibetan Buddhism, takes the concept of sunyata or emptiness in Mahayana Buddhism to its logical conclusion in practice (rather than simply in one's perspective or way of viewing reality). This means that one can manifest enlightenment not merely in acting in noble ways consistent with the paramita of sila, or moral discipline, but also in acts that would, in the ordinary world, be considered to be "sinful". I take the notion to be that if all dharmas are "empty" then there is no difference between good and evil. Also, from the perspective of expedient means as understood within this tradition, there is the rationale that if a practitioner has already banished all afflictions of the mind, then he can also rely on expedient means to temporarily display a “breaking of the precepts”.

[@TheNeilDarby]

***** Wow what a good reply. I have to ask though, doesn't all Mahayana sects interpret Dharmas as sunya, and don't they all make a point of merging perspective with practice?

[@namoamidabuts]

You are absolutely right about all Mahayana sects interpreting dharmas as sunyata. I think it is just that different ones draw different conclusions about the practice implications.

[@sharongerlofs8517]

As a practitioner of Vajrayana Buddhism there is an emphasis on The Middle Way and Equanimity. Also Bodhisitta or compassion is practiced for all sentient beings, as in the recitation of the Four immeasurables. So no blurring of good and evil because there is nothing to blur. A person dedicated all their merits for others.

[@tenzinrabyang6652]

Where is Tibetan buddhism?

[@namoamidabuts]

In the video I referenced Tibetan Buddhism as the Vajrayana or Diamond Vehicle. My understanding is that it was transmitted from Northern Indian Tantric Buddhist monks who established an essentially esoteric form of Buddhism. I believe that the implication in my poster that the Tibetan form was transmitted from Japan, with Shingon as its precursor, is in error. What I describe in the far right column of the poster is, however, referring to the Tibetan form of Buddhism, about which I must acknowledge having only little knowledge.

[@vodar332]

acalaacala vajrayana the Tantricyana was brought by guru padmasambhava. in Tantricyana there are three branches mahayoga, anuyoga and a-ti-yoga.

[@uguensonam1459]

You should be removing your explanation on Vajrayana. Either due to ignorance or misunderstanding, you made it seem like Vajrayana is full of rituals and mandalas. Vajrayana not only encompasses teachings of Pali Canon but also Mahayana sutras and Mahayana treases composed by Nagarjuna, Asanga and other Indian masters beside the tantra tradition which was developed in the universities of Nalanda and Vikramshila. Shingon of Japan didn't evolve into Tibetan Buddhism. Rather Tibetan Buddhism was directly imparted by Indian Buddhist teachers from Nalanda and Vikramshila. Besides, Tibetan Buddhism is divided into Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu and Gelug and not on the basis of color of hat as you mentioned. Moreover, your video made a wrong statement that HH the Dalai Lama and Kelsang Gyatso each led a section of Gelug sect. Dalai Lamas are considered the embodiment of all the Buddha's compassion while Kelsang Gyatso was an ordinary monk who became infamous by worshipping a deity which is deemed sectarian among Tibetans.

[@gyurmethlodroe1774]

if the quality of this explanation is to be judged on the basis of visual presentation, It would rank very very low

[@namoamidabuts]

I don't disagree. -John

[@gyurmethlodroe1774]

@@namoamidabuts I bow down at your feet🙏

[@namoamidabuts]

🙏