Mudita Journal

Types of Buddhism

April 5, 2004 · Filed under: Buddhism
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I just posted the following to Mudita Forum, in response to a new member’s questions about the types of Buddhism:

What are the differences between the “branches” of Buddhism- Theravada, Mahayana, Zen, and any others?

Here’s my understanding, based chiefly on my reading of the book The New Buddhism, which I recommend as an enjoyable tale of the history of Buddhism and its arrival in the United States.

Theravadan Buddhism is the oldest form of Buddhism, which originated a couple thousand years ago in India. It is based more or less on the original suttas, or Sanskrit documents, that had recorded the Buddha’s teachings — once writing became available. There is still a gap of a few hundred years, apparently, during which the Buddha’s teachings were handed down by oral tradition, no doubt getting further embellished by each orator.

Mahayana Buddhism is a newer form of Buddhism, historically associated with Tibet. It tends to be more flamboyant in its teachings and rituals, which often incorporate various gods of this-and-that. The Dalai Lama is from this tradition, if I’m not mistaken.

Zen Buddhism has many varieties, including Chinese, Korean, and Japanese variants — with each successive tradition re-interpreting the Buddha’s original teachings, leading in some cases to the proliferation of “interpretations of interpretations of interpretations.”

Today the two major schools of Zen are Soto (predominant in China, I believe) and Rinzai (predominant in Korea and Japan). Rinzai tends to be more of a warrior or “samurai” approach to meditation, very ascetic and harsh. Soto is the more relaxed “farmer” variety. From what I’ve seen, our common concept of what Zen Buddhism entails comes largely from the Rinzai tradition.

Does any one branch embrace atheism more? Does any one branch embrace capitalism and individualism more?

I believe that both Zen and Theravadan Buddhism each greatly de-emphasize the role of the supernatural. Mahayana, on the other hand, celebrates a kind of polytheism. However, it seems to be done in a much more light-hearted fashion than the way gods are worshipped in monotheistic religions like Christianity or Islam.

No branches of Buddhism explicitly embrace individualism, to my knowledge. (And certainly not capitalism.) On the contrary, they speak commonly of dissolving the experience of the self. However, in my experience there are aspects of both Theravadan and Zen Buddhism which seem more individualistic — Zen, with its warrior ethic, and Theravadan, with its emphasis on cultivating insight and personal development.

My own practice of Buddhist meditation has been chiefly in the Theravadan and (its American sister) Vipassana traditions. Vipassana means “insight,” and this approach (taught by both Spirit Rock in California and the Insight Meditation Center in Massachusetts) has been influenced, perhaps more than any other Buddhist tradition, by American notions of personal growth and psychological development. In fact, many American teachers of Vipassana meditation are actually psychologists by training.

Regardless of the tradition, I very commonly pick-and-choose among the teachings that I find valuable. In general, I find Buddhist ideas to be more suited to psychology than to philosophy, and I confess I sometimes even blush when I hear Buddhists making philosophical pronouncements.

But I keep practicing, because I find that the meditation techniques really do work — really help one develop a sense of calm inner peace, insight, and enjoyment of day-to-day life.

I hope that helps answer your questions. And I hope others will provide their answers, as well. This strikes me as a very fruitful line of inquiry.

Posted by Joshua Zader · Trackback URL · Link
  • http://jenben.info/home.html JenBen

    Actually, Tibetan Buddhism is also known as Vajrayana…or lightning bolt. While its roots may be in Mahayana, it is very much its own beast and is considered the 3rd major branch of Buddhism. Vajrayana is considered a faster route to enlightenmentand s highly ritualized, using many ritual objects. Vajrayana is the only Buddhism that believes you can become enlightened in a single lifetime. Milarepa did this after starting his life as a mercenary.

    Zen Buddhism is actually strictly Japanese. The word Zen comes from a mis-translation of the Chinese word Chan so Chan Buddhism is directly related to Zen Buddhism and both are a mis-translation of the sanskrit word dhyana which means meditation.

    Just an FYI…

  • http://www.zenunbound.com Tom Armstrong

    Sigh. I am sorry to say that your report on the various types of Buddhism is more than a little confused, but that is to be expected from someone looking at the religion from an Objectivist’s viewpoint.

    Buddhist is a spiritual quest; I believe this is something that Ayn Rand views as illusory. In many ways, one can think of Objectivism and Buddhism as opposites, and even in opposition.

    Buddhism is univeralist while Objectivism is individualist. In Buddhism one realizes One Mind — something that is foreign and even absurd to an Objectivist.

    The different strains of Buddhism represent different approaches to what is really very much the same goal. Somes strains are more rigorous; some have a lot of myth and hooey attached to them. IMHO, Zen and Ch’an are more straightforward and commonsensical. But even with Zen/Ch’an there are traditions and rituals that one learns to transcend.

    Today, all the strains of Buddhism have flowed across the world’s political borders. It is hard to pull them apart. It is just as well; they have intermingled and influenced each other from the very beginning.

  • http://zader.com Joshua Zader

    Tom,

    I have no doubt that my understanding of Buddhism is inferior to that of people who have studied it for many years. Your arrogant tone does little to inspire my thirst for dialogue, however; it makes me wonder whether you practice Buddhism or spout it.

    Perhaps you’d like to start anew and be less condescending? I would welcome it. Mudita Forum would be the perfect place to do so, and I can assure you that you’ll find some fresh, interested minds with which to interact.

    Joshua

  • Grace Moore

    My name is Grace Moore, and im a 14 year-old from New Zealand.
    Can I say that your comments confused me to say the least!
    I am doing research assignment for school and was asked to research the different types of Buddhism.
    Why did you have to confuse me with your arguements??!!
    The rest of your site is good though!!!!!!
    :)

  • http://www.zader.com Joshua Zader

    Grace,

    Sorry to hear I confused you. Which parts were confusing?

    Perhaps I should have someone more knowledgeable look this over and correct any mistakes I’ve made.

    Joshua

  • Thomas

    Joshua Zader has given a most adequate answer on Buddhism, and a type of Meditation, emphsizing that certain sects of Buddhism believe a little differently and according to the beliefs, have one or possibly more than one type of Meditation with that particular sect of
    Buddhism.

    I must choose a sect of Buddhism, whether Zen,
    Theravaden, Mahayana, etc. Buddhism, then search and discover the various Meditations, and Meditative techniques with the Buddhist Sect of my choice.

    Thank You.

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