Buddha the founder of the Buddhist faith lived in India, Bihar, from 563-483 BCE. As the Buddha or enlightened one he preached his doctrine of the four great truths. Sorrow is inherent in life, it arises from desire, and only by eliminating desire can man be released from sorrow. This may be achieved by following the noble eight-fold path of right conduct in vision, thought, speech, action, giving, striving, vigilance and meditation. He preached that this middle path would lead to nirvana. There are now 4 distinctive types of Buddhism.
Theravada - or "way of the elders" - is the sole remaining form of conservative Buddhism, of which there were once at least 18 schools, or nikaya. It originated in India during the centuries after the final nirvana of the Buddha and was probably the dominant form of Buddhism in India. Theravada is now the dominant form of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia (Burma [Myanmar], Thailand, Cambodia, Laos), where it replaced other types of Buddhism during the last five hundred years.
According to followers of Mahayana, the Mahayana sutras were taught by the Buddha to only a select few, and were passed down "underground" (so to speak) until the time was ripe. Vajrayana Buddhism - Vajrayana -- or "Diamond Vehicle" Buddhism -- originated in India, perhaps as early as the 4th or 5th century CE. As with Mahayana, Vajrayana Buddhists hold that Buddha taught this form of Buddhism -- also called Tantra, after the name of its scriptures -- to a few disciples who then passed it on secretly. It is also called Secret Mantrayana or "Secret Mantra Vehicle"
The ideal in Conservative Buddhism is restraint and nonviolence, becoming detached from cyclic existence. The ideal in Mahayana is active involvement in helping beings in cyclic existence, but with detachment. The doctrinal focus is on the emptiness / transparency of all things. The ideal in Vajrayana Buddhism is reversal of traditional monastic…
