Historically, Mahayana Buddhism is thought to have emerged as a unified body of thought in India between the 1st century B.C.E and the 1st century C.E. Mahayana is a general name for a wide variety of loosely related schools and teachings, some of which are even contradictory.

Early Mahayana was composed of different groups that split off from the traditional (Theravada) community. Seeking to expand beyond the strict adherence to the Pali Canon and its heavy reliance upon monastic renunciation and the practice of seeking enlightenment solely for oneself, members sought to make the Teachings more accessible to laypersons that were unable to live monastically. Mahayana is often thought of as the expansion or deepening of Sakyamuni’s spiritual teachings, embracing many sutras (teachings) that the Theravada does not recognize as legitimate.

Viewing the ‘orthodox’ path as inferior, they referred to the traditionalists’ path derogatorily as Hinayana, which literally means ‘the lesser vehicle,’ while referring to their own path as Mahayana, or ‘the greater vehicle.’ This new tradition felt that acting for the upliftment and enlightenment of all sentient beings was the noblest spiritual path. They taught that everyone could attain Buddhahood, because all sentient life contained divinity. Great emphasis was placed on practicing compassion.*

Mahayana was largely influenced by two earlier sects, the Mahasanghikas, or ‘members of the Great Community,’ and the Sarvastivada, the ‘Teaching that says everything is.’ The Mahasanghikas taught that everything is a projection of mind* and regarded the Buddha as a supernatural figure who was limitless and all-knowing, residing always in Samadhi, a state of consciousness where the subject and object become one.* The Sarvastivada taught that the past, present, and future were simultaneous.*

Mahayana eventually spread eastward from India over the Himalayas, splitting into many different sects. Vietnam, Taiwan, China and Japan all practice Mahayana. In China alone, there have been at least 10 different schools including Ch’an and the very popular Pure-Land Buddhism. Japan is home to at least 6 Buddhist schools, including Nichiren, Zen (the Japanese name for Ch’an), and Pure-Land.

*Practices and teachings in bold are also incorporated in HÜMÜH Buddhism.