Old School vs New School Buddhism

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OLD SCHOOL VS NEW SCHOOL The two largest forms of Buddhism are the old school way of the elders, Theravada, “The Lesser Vehicle”; and Mahayana, the reformed Buddhist group, “The Greater Vehicle.” Although there are significant differences between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, they share much in common, including that both believe in their commitment to the teaching of the Noble Fourfold Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, emphasis on establishing mindfulness as the heart of their practice, and their acceptance of the Buddha as a model of a fully enlightened person/being. Theravada and Mahayanist Buddhists differ greatly in the emphasis put on Buddha and how they interpret his teachings. Theravada Buddhists are following Pali Cannon, the oral tradition taught by Buddha; the earliest available teachings of “the Awakened One.” In them, he never claimed to be divine. Though Buddha was revered above all else for “The Elders” view him as first and foremost the historical person Siddhartha Gautama, who achieved enlightenment. By following his guide/Pali Cannon/ Dharma we can hope to actuate the same fate of release from the Wheel of Death and Rebirth. Mahayana attitudes toward Buddhist teachings are of course partially due to the Mahayana view of Buddha; most Mahayana thought treats him as a manifestation of a divine being. Mahayana Buddhism heavily uses rituals, statues, added a number of celestial beings or deities (that are believed to be incarnations of Buddha) to a part of their rituals and more scripture to guide their path enlightenment. The Second Noble Truth asserts that the cause of suffering is craving and desires. If one is constantly feeding, even if unknowingly, their cravings for a sensory pleasure such as praising multiple statues of deities, believed to be Bodhisattvas, even of Buddha; by craving to unite with an experience perpetually,
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