Two Main Schools of Buddhism

　　佛教的两大部派

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

　　一个真正的佛教修学者，不应该执着于任何宗派。

　　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.

　　佛陀入灭后数百年，已出现十八个不同的部派，有各自的不同观点。这些不同的部派，基本是因为对佛法有各自不同的阐释而成立的。过了一段时期，这十八个部派逐渐的合并成为两大部派：上座部与大众部。今天，极大多数的佛教徒都分属这两大部派。

　　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.)

　　上座部追随佛陀的教诲，透过自身的努力寻求解脱。大乘佛教则是以圆成佛道为修行依止。大乘佛教认为可以透过菩萨行来圆成佛道，对他们来说，菩萨就是未来佛。菩萨为了悲悯众生，发愿救度众生脱离苦海，因此延误了成佛的时机。但是，这种说法并未见于上座部巴利文经典里。佛陀教诲弟子要认真的看待佛法，只有在真的了解佛法时，才能对它自由的发挥。但是，总的来说，上座部和大乘佛教都隶属于尊贵的佛陀。

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

　　从以下数点，可以看出部派都能达到共识。

　　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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