Mahāyāna Buddhism

Mahāyāna (Sanskrit: महायान, literally the "Great Vehicle") is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism. It originated in India and spread to various other Asian countries such as China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Bhutan, Malaysia, and Mongolia.

Mme. Blavatsky wrote:

The Hînayâna System, or School of the “Little Vehicle,” is of very ancient growth; while the Mahâyânâ is of a later period, having originated after the death of Buddha. Yet the tenets of the latter are as old as the hills that have contained such schools from time immemorial, and the Hînayâna and Mahâyânâ Schools (the latter, that of the “Great Vehicle”) both teach the same doctrine in reality. Yana, or Vehicle (in Sanskrit, Vahan) is a mystic expression, both “vehicles” inculcating that man may escape the sufferings of rebirths and even the false bliss of Devachan, by obtaining Wisdom and Knowledge, which alone can dispel the Fruits of Illusion and Ignorance.

See also

• Hīnayāna
• Yogācāra
• Madyamaka
• Vajrayāna
• Jonang