Two Main Schools of Buddhism

　　佛教的兩大部派

　　The real followers of the Buddha can practise this religion without adhering to any school or sect.

　　一個真正的佛教修學者，不應該執著于任何宗派。

　　A few hundred years after the Buddha”s passing away, there arose eighteen different schools or sects all of which claimed to represent the original Teachings of the Buddha. The differences between these schools were basically due to various interpretations of the Teachings of the Buddha. Over a period of time, these schools gradually merged into two main schools: Theravada and Mahayana. Today, a majority of the followers of Buddhism are pided into these two schools.

　　佛陀入滅後數百年，已出現十八個不同的部派，有各自的不同觀點。這些不同的部派，基本是因爲對佛法有各自不同的闡釋而成立的。過了一段時期，這十八個部派逐漸的合並成爲兩大部派：上座部與大衆部。今天，極大多數的佛教徒都分屬這兩大部派。

　　Basically Mahayana Buddhism grew out of the Buddha”s teaching that each inpidual carries within himself the potential for Buddhahood. Theravadins say that this potential can be realized through inpidual effort. Mahayanists, on the other hand, believe that they can seek salvation through the intervention of other superior beings called Bodhisattas. According to them, Bodhisattas are future Buddhas who, out of compassion for their fellow human beings, have delayed their own attainment of Buddhahood until they have helped others towards liberation. In spite of this basic difference, however, it must be stressed that doctrinally there is absolutely no disagreement concerning the Dhamma as contained in the sacred Tripitaka texts. Because Buddhists have been encouraged by the Master to carefully inquire after the truth, they have been free to interpret the scriptures according to their understanding. But above all, both Mahayana and Theravada are one in their reverence for the Buddha.(For a short, excellent exposition on this topic, read Dr. W. Rahula, ”Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism” published by The Buddhist Missionary Society.)

　　上座部追隨佛陀的教誨，透過自身的努力尋求解脫。大乘佛教則是以圓成佛道爲修行依止。大乘佛教認爲可以透過菩薩行來圓成佛道，對他們來說，菩薩就是未來佛。菩薩爲了悲憫衆生，發願救度衆生脫離苦海，因此延誤了成佛的時機。但是，這種說法並未見于上座部巴利文經典裏。佛陀教誨弟子要認真的看待佛法，只有在真的了解佛法時，才能對它自由的發揮。但是，總的來說，上座部和大乘佛教都隸屬于尊貴的佛陀。

　　The areas of agreement between the two schools are as follows:

　　從以下數點，可以看出部派都能達到共識。

　　Both accept Sakyamuni Buddha as the Teacher. The Four Noble Truths are exactly the same in both schools. The Eightfold Path is exactly the same in both schools. The Pattica-Samuppada or teaching on Dependent Origination is the same in both schools. Both reject the idea of a supreme being who created and governed this world. Both accept Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta and Sila, Samadhi, Panna without any difference. Some people are of the view that Theravada is selfish because it teaches that people should seek their own salvation. But how can a selfish person gain Enlightenment

　　 Both schools accept the three Yana or Bodhi and consider the Bodhisatta Ideal as the highest. The Mahayana has created many mystical Bodhisattas, while the Theravada believes that a Bodhisatta is a man amongst us who devotes his entire life for the attainment of perfection, and ultimately becomes a fully Enlightened Buddha for the well-being and happiness of the world. The terms Hinayana (Small Vehicle) and Mahayana(Great Vehicle)are not known in the Theravada Pali literature. They are not found in the Pali Canon (Tripitaka) or in the Commentaries on the Tripitaka.

　　Theravada Buddhists follow orthodox religious traditions that had prevailed in India two thousand five hundred years ago. They perform their religious services in the Pali language. They also expect to attain the final goal (Nibbana) by becoming a Supreme Enlightened Buddha, Pacceka Buddha, or an Arahant (the highest stage of sainthood). The Majority of them prefer the Arahantahood. Buddhists in Sri Lanka, Burma, and Thailand belong to this school. Mahayanists have …

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