largely be divided into three majorgroups or 'vehicles'"(Buddhist Basics pg.2).The first of the three is Hinayana school, aslo known as the Theraveda school,School of the Elders, and the "lesser vehicle." This school is widely practiced in SoutheastAsia. This is the oldest and probably the most strict of the three. It also regards itself asthe closest to the original teachings of the Buddha. While Hinayana focuses on the FourNoble Truth and the Eightfold Path just like the other schools, it is still different. "Itsemphasis is on personal rather that collective liberation"(Buddhist Basics pg.2). This isbased on the Buddha's thought that one cannot enlighten another. This "looking out fornumber one" mentality is probably why this school is the "lesser vehicle." Another reasonmay be that it would take a smaller, lesser, vehicle to take only person to Nirvana, asopposed to helping others come along.Polonnaruwa, Sri LankaThis is the desire of the "Mahayana, which means 'great vehicle'"(Wangu pg.50),school. This school developed in India during the first century C.E. As was mentionedbefore, They "desire to liberate all beings"(Buddhist Basics pg.3). This is based on thequestion of if an enlightened individual could enter Nirvana while others are still suffering. Because of this the ideal becomes the "bodhisattava- literally, a being of wisdom"(Wangupg.52), or one who postpones entry into Nirvana and who is consciously reborn to helphumanity. "The bodhisavatta is similar to the sacrificial role of Jesus inChristianity"(Wangu pg.53). "Mahayanist strongly emphasize compassion as the ultimateform of practice"(Buddhist Basics pg.3). This all inclusive approach is most likely thereason as to why it is called the "great vehicle." There is also the reason of the size ofvehicle it would take to "transport" the people to Nirvana. There is also a third schoolwhich came from the Mahayana school.This is the Tantrayana school, also known as...
