Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism

What was happening to Theravada Buddhism that opened the way for a revolutionary new movement, ultimately to be known as Mahayana?
What was it about the character of the Theravada tradition that opened the way for the rise of Mahayana? Why did Mahayanist refer to the Theravada tradition as "Hinayana"?

Buddhist Statue

In chapter 11 of Awakening: Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought, Buddha became a master of yoga meditation. There were two forms of meditation practice that the Theravada Buddhism were taught, which were as Bresnan stated, "one leading to samadhi and the other leading to right understanding of the self." (Bresnan 226) Until the first type of mediation is succeed, that is only when the second type of meditation may be ready for one to take up. Samatha meditation is the first type, which is the traditional yoga meditation that leads to a state of stillness and focuses on a single object. The second type of meditation is vippasana, also known as Mindfulness Meditation or Insight Meditation, which is when one focuses on "whatever is happening in consciousness at the present moment." (Bresnan 227)

In the early eras of Buddhism, Theravada represented the views of what Buddhism was. Most Buddhists who practice Theravada were from the better-educated upper class, and each monk selfishly directed all the attention to its own personal need of achieving nirvana. As Bresnan mentioned, "Theravada had become far too self-centered." (Bresnan 231) Therefore, this opened the way for Mahayana Buddhism to rise.

Mahayana Buddhists

In chapter 12 of Awakening: Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought, Bresnan disclose "Mahayana regard to be a new and deeper interpretation of the meaning of his teaching." (Bresnan 233) Mahayana became a "great vehicle" for which Buddha used as a metaphor for his teachings. A raft, which was a common form of transportation during this era was being compared to as a great vehicle, which Buddha used to compare as his teachings and that the raft "could ferry a person across the river of ignorance." (Bresnan 232) Therefore, this raft had a large enough space to carry everyone unlike the Theravadins who were only able to carry oneself.

Hinayanists was a term used by the Mahayana, to which they referred the Theravadins. Because the Theravadins selfishly were only able to make room for the elite ones, Mahayana felt the need to refer Theravadins as Hiniyana, which is "simply a lesser, and therefore inferior, vehicle." (Bresnan 232) Theravada criticized the sutras of Mahayana, claiming that it was not authentic teachings of Buddha. Mahayana argued that "most of the world simply was not ready to receive this teaching at the time of Buddha's death." (Bresnan 233)

Monks studying Mahayana Sutras

Sutras of Mayahana appeared in the first and second century C.E. and "provided the spiritual and philosophical underpinning to Mahayana." (Bresnan 235) As stated on the website Learn Religions, Mahayana is the dominant form of Buddhism in China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Vietnam, and several other nations.

Works Cited 

“Chapter 11 and 12.” Awakening: an Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought, by Patrick Bresnan, Pearson, 2013, pp. 226–235.

O'Brien, Barbara. “What Is Mahayana Buddhism? How Does It Differ From Theravada Buddhism?” Learn Religions, Learn Religions, 27 Apr. 2019, www.learnreligions.com/mahayana-buddhism-overview-450004.