Mahayana
Mahayana (Sanskrit: महायान, mahāyāna, literally the "Great Vehicle") is one of the three main branches of Buddhism. Zen is a kind of Mahayana that is influenced by Confucianism.
|
| |
|---|---|
|
Basic terms | |
|
| |
|
People | |
|
Schools | |
|
Practices | |
Mahayana Media
- Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita Maitreya Detail.jpeg
An illustration in a manuscript of the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra from Nalanda, depicting the bodhisattva Maitreya, an important figure in Mahāyāna
- Shishoin temple shibamata Five Tathagatas 2020.jpg
The Five Tathāgatas in Shishoin Temple (Tokyo). A unique feature of Mahāyāna is the belief that there are multiple Buddhas which are currently teaching the Dharma.
- Seated Avalokiteshvara. Gandharan, from Loriyan Tangai. Kushan period, 1st - 3d century AD. Indian Museum, Calcutta ei05-31.jpg
Seated Avalokiteshvara bodhisattva. Gandharan, from Loriyan Tangai. Kushan period, 1st – 3rd century CE. Indian Museum, Calcutta
- Karla chaitya stupa.JPG
Cave complex associated with the Mahāsāṃghika sect. Karla Caves, Mahārāṣtra, India
- A view of Nalanda University.jpg
Ruins of the Nalanda Mahavihara (Great Monastery) in Bihar, a major center for the study of Mahāyāna Buddhism from the fifth century CE to c. 1200 CE
- Chakrasamvara Mandala.jpg
The use of mandalas was one new feature of Tantric Buddhism, which also adopted new deities such as Chakrasamvara (pictured)
- Ming Bronze Vairocana Buddha.jpg
A Ming bronze of the Buddha Mahāvairocana which depicts his body as being composed of numerous other Buddhas
- Prajnaparamita with Devotees, Folio from a Shatasahasrika Prajnaparamita (The Perfection of Wisdom in 100,000 Verses) LACMA M.81.90.6 (3 of 6).jpg
The female bodhisattva Prajñaparamita Devi
