What is Mahayana Buddhism?

Summary

The transcript explains the core differences between the two principal approaches in Buddhism: the Sravaka and Mahayana paths. Sravaka followers aim for personal liberation by transcending suffering through self-realization and the understanding that the self is fictional. Mahayana followers, on the other hand, are driven by supreme compassion, seeking enlightenment not just for themselves but for the benefit of all beings. The Mahayana path is regarded as deeper in wisdom and broader in compassion, as it embraces the concept of emptiness on a universal scale, extending beyond individual liberation.

Takeaways

• 🚗 Mahayana means 'the great vehicle,' reflecting a broader, more inclusive approach to following Buddha's teachings.
• 🧘‍♂️ During Buddha's time and beyond, people differed in their motivations for practicing his teachings.
• 🙏 One group of followers focused on ending their own personal suffering, achieved by understanding that the self is fictional and detachment is key.
• 🌱 Buddha's teachings helped people transcend the cycle of birth, death, and suffering through personal liberation.
• 🌍 Other followers were motivated by Buddha's example of compassion, aiming to help all beings reach liberation.
• 💡 Buddha's enlightenment was seen not just as personal liberation, but as a means to guide others toward freedom from suffering.
• 💞 Those motivated by bodhichitta, the desire to become enlightened for the sake of others, are considered followers of the Mahayana.
• 🛤️ Sravaka vehicle followers focus on individual liberation, but can shift to the Mahayana when great compassion arises in them.
• 🔄 Both approaches—individual and collective liberation—are present in Buddha's teachings.
• 🌌 Mahayana offers a more profound wisdom, viewing emptiness not only as the absence of self but as the lack of inherent nature in all phenomena, both mental and physical.

Q & A

What does 'Mahayana' literally mean?

Mahayana literally means 'the great vehicle.'

What are the two principal approaches to following Buddha's teachings?

The two principal approaches are: 1) Following Buddha's teachings to end one's personal suffering, and 2) Following Buddha's example of supreme compassion to liberate all beings.

What motivates some followers to seek their own personal liberation in Buddhism?

Some followers are motivated by the desire to end their personal suffering by realizing that clinging to the self is the source of suffering, and that the self is fictional.

How does the realization of the fictional nature of the self help in liberation?

Realizing the fictional nature of the self creates a sense of spaciousness and freedom, allowing one to transcend the cycle of birth, death, and suffering.

What distinguishes the motivation of Mahayana followers from others?

Mahayana followers are motivated by supreme compassion, following Buddha's example of seeking enlightenment not just for themselves, but for the liberation of all beings.

What is bodhichitta, and how is it relevant to Mahayana practitioners?

Bodhichitta is the impulse to become enlightened for the benefit of others. It motivates Mahayana practitioners to follow Buddha's teachings with the aim of liberating all beings.

What is the difference between the Sravaka vehicle and the Mahayana?

The Sravaka vehicle focuses on individual liberation, while the Mahayana is based on the great compassion to help all beings and understands the nature of reality in a more profound way.

Can followers of the Sravaka vehicle transition to the Mahayana? If so, how?

Yes, followers of the Sravaka vehicle can transition to the Mahayana if great compassion awakens in them, leading them to seek the liberation of all beings.

How do Mahayana practitioners view emptiness compared to Sravaka followers?

While Sravaka followers understand emptiness as the absence of a personal self, Mahayana practitioners see emptiness as the lack of inherent nature or intrinsic essence in all phenomena.

Why is Mahayana considered more profound in wisdom and compassion than the Sravaka vehicle?

Mahayana is more profound in wisdom because it understands emptiness on a larger scale, applying it to all phenomena, and it is more extensive in compassion because it seeks to liberate all beings, not just the individual.