Sects in Buddhism : In detail

Mahayana

This sect of Buddhism believes in the heavenliness of Buddha and believes in Idol Worship. Mahayan sect spread from India to several other nations such as China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and Mangolia.

Mahayana believes in Mantras. Its main principles were based on the possibility of universal liberation from suffering for all beings.

That’s why, this sect is called Mahayana (The Great Vehicle). Its principles are also based on the existence of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas embodying Buddha nature. It allows salvation through having faith and committing oneself to Buddha.

 

Hinayana

Hinayana follows the original teaching of Buddha. It emphasizes individual salvation through self discipline and meditation.

Hinayana think that The Buddha is an ordinary person because he has many human-like characteristics such as looking like a person, being born like a person, living like a person besides if he was a God he would have already known about old-aged people, diseased people and dead people.

So Siddhartha Gautama is an ordinary person who devoted most of his life to finding the truth of life, to reach enlightenment. Also the fact that Siddhartha Gautama didn’t know how to meditate before reaching the Meditation Masters suggests that Siddhartha Gautama didn’t know how to meditate and so couldn’t have been a God.