SUBDIVISIONS

PRESENTED BY: NALONG, MAILAH

TOBIL, JESSA
TORRES JOSH
MAHAYANA BUDDHISM
Consists of a variety of schools and family of
religions.
When the teachings of Mahayana Buddhism spread
in many Asian nations, it acquired new concepts from
these localities that found articulation in many
ritualistic practices and divine figures.
Two Major Schools
The Madhyamika and the Yogachara.
1. Madhyamika (intermediate)- whose adherents
stress the transformation of human perception to
handle the truth of that which is ultimately real
beyond any duality.
2. Yogachara (Practice of Yoga) thinkers emphasize
that the truth a human being perceives does not
exist.
The Pure Land Sect
Pure Land Buddhism began in India around the second
century B.C.E, Spread to China by the second century C.E.
and reached Japan around sixth century C.E
When believers die, it is their objective to live in the “Pure
Land of the West” or Sukhavati. By simply reciting the name
of the Amitabha with utmost attentiveness many time
during the day,
They may be reborn in this paradise where they can work to
achieve enlightenment much easier.
 Amitabha
The God who supervises over a western paradise, is the focus of
this sect. Once in Sukhavati, people can experience the delight
in hearing.
It teach the dharma in preparation for their entry to nirvana.
Aside from meditations, this Buddhist sect utilizes chants and
recitations to focus on helpful thoughts (Losch 2001).
In Japan, by simplifying sect practices, such as those done by the
monk Honen in the twelfth century, this attracted many
followers to the sect Jodo Buddhism or Jodu-shu (“The Pure
Land School”) founded in 1175.
Amitabha
Those people who are not able to carry out meditational
intricacies and the long ritualistic practices can still attain
enlightenment by simply reciting the name of Amitabha with
utmost and genuine faith. It was a form of Buddhism made
accessible to everyone.
An offshoot of Pure Land Buddhism is the Shin Buddhism or
Jodo Shin-shu (“True Pure Land School”) founded by another
Japanese monk Shinran during the thirteenth century. A
disciple of Honan, Shinran preached the primacy of faith and
considered the act of chanting and having no value at all.
The Intuitive Sects
The Establishment of Intuitive Sects of
Buddhism
Can be traced around sixth century C.E to the work of an Indian
monk name Bodhidharma whose life stories are shrouded with
mysteries and numerous legends (Murphy 1949).
Emphasize that salvation is a personal matter and one cannot
receive assistance from other entities, such as another person
or institution, to realize the inner truths of religion.
In short, Most elements of religion- from scriptures, temples,
statues, prayers, and rituals – are not essential to achieve
enlightenment.
The Establishment of Intuitive Sects of
Buddhism
An individual may be spiritually enlightened by a
sudden of insight, either through meditation or
even by accident, beyond words or thoughts.
MODERN EUROPEAN thinkers have been attracted
to Zen Buddhism because of tits concept on
simplicity and intuitive inspiration (Brown 1975).
The Rationalist Sect
A Rationalist Buddhist school of thought called T'ien-t'ai emerged
around the sixth century C.E. with its name originating from a mountain
in south- eastern China where its founder Chih-I or Zhiyi lived. Apart
from meditational practices.
This sect taught that one must utilize reason and study the scriptures
and doctrines to discover Buddhist truths (Hopfe 1983). Chih-I
emphasized that acts of studying and contemplation were both vital for
spiritual enlightenment. Apart from instructions on the scriptures and
silent meditation, other means to reach this goal include mystical
communion with the eternal, ascetic discipline, meritorious deeds, and
simple faith in the mercy of the Buddha (Jurji 1946).
The Rationalist Sect
There is a need to integrate Buddhist sacred writings
to know the truth, with the Lotus Sutra being
revered as its ultimate writing. In 806 C.E., the
teachings of Chih-I were introduced in Japan by the
monk Saicho that came to be known as Tendai.
During the eleventh century, the Buddhist monk
Uicheon established the Cheontae Buddhist school
in Korea.
The Socio-Political Sect
A Japanese Buddhist monk by the name of Nichiren
Daishonin who lived during the thirteenth century
during the Kamakura period began to teach that
the path towards attaining enlightenment rested
solely on the devotion to the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren
("sun lotus") Buddhism, which is purely a Japanese
phenomenon, perceives itself as the only rightful
version of Buddhism.
The Socio-Political Sect
Nichiren Buddhism teaches that individuals must take
responsibility to enhance themselves, or what is called "human
revolution," and, in turn, to improve the world's lot.
Enlightenment is accessible to every individual on earth simply by
opening one's inherent Buddha-nature in this world. A scrip- ture
scholar and an activist, Nichiren is considered a Buddha. Nichiren
taught that he alone understood Buddhist truths. He believed that
other Buddhist sects in Japan were corrupting the people towards
hell. As he was living in a degraded stage, Japanese society was
also in a state of disarray. For his missionary work and excessive
criticism of rival Buddhist sects in Japan, he made many influential
enemies.
The Socio-Political Sect
Nichiren taught that he alone understood Buddhist
truths. He believed that other Buddhist sects in Japan
were corrupting the people towards hell. As he was living
in a degraded stage, Japanese society was also in a state
of disarray. For his missionary work and excessive
criticism of rival Buddhist sects in Japan, he made many
influential enemies.
The Socio-Political Sect
Nichiren also reproached Japanese authority
because of its failure to promote the Lotus Sutra
and for allowing fraudulent Buddhist sects to
flourish in the country. To him, religion and
patriotism were one (Jurji 1946). For his staunch
belief and frequent government opposition, he was
twice exiled and twice condemned to death.
The Socio-Political Sect
Although some of his disciples were executed, he
refused to renege in his principles. In 1274, he was
given freedom and cleared of his wrongful acts. He
died in 1282. The Nichiren sect of Buddhism is an
example of a religious group that came to have an
effect in the socio-political dimension of Japan
(Hopfe 1983). Present-day schools of Nichiren
Buddhism include Soka Gakkai, Nichiren Shoshu,
and Nichiren Shu