Hinayana Buddhism appeals to the individual as affording
a way of escape from evil desire and its consequences by acquiring
knowledge, by constant discipline, and by a devotedness of the life to
religious ends through membership in the monastic order which Buddha
established. It encourages, however, a personal salvation worked out by
the individual alone.
The Mahayana school of Buddhists accept the general ideas of the
Hinayana regarding life and salvation, but so change the spirit and
objectives as to make Buddhism into what is virtually another religion.
It does not confine salvation to the few who can retire from the world
and give themselves wholly to good works, but opens Buddhahood to all.
The "saint" of Hinayana Buddhism is the _arhat_ who is intent on
saving himself. The saint of Mahayana Buddhism is the candidate for
Buddhahood (Bodhisattva) who defers his entrance into the bliss of
deliverance in order to save others. Mahayana Buddhism is progressive.
It encourages missionary enterprise and was a secret of the remarkable
spread of Buddhism over Asia. Moreover, while the Hinayana school
recognizes no god or being to whom worship is given, the Mahayana came
to regard Gautama himself as a god and salvation as life in a heavenly
world of pure souls. Thus the Mahayana type of thinking constitutes a
bridge between Hinayana Buddhism and Christianity. In fact, a recent
writer has declared that Hinayana Buddhists are verging toward these
more spiritual conceptions.
Pages:
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31