The Three Schools of Buddhism: Intro

We will look at the three major schools of Buddhism, in the sort of contemporary context YouTubers would be likely to encounter them. We'll highlight some of the similarities and differences in their styles of belief and practice. This is intended only as a very rough introduction though since there is WAY too much to deal with in a short video. Please put your own experiences down below!

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Matthew Smith

00:00 Intro
02:37 Theravāda Buddhism
07:21 Mahāyāna Buddhism
11:46 Vajrayāna Buddhism
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Please visit the Secular Buddhist Association webpage!

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[sinjunart]

It's AMAZING to me that we have this knowledge at our fingertips in this age. The knowledge in this video would have taken an entire lifetime of travel and study across many distant countries.

[misterlelong]

Buddha said: “I teach one thing and one thing only: suffering and the end of suffering, ” which is the ultimate goal of Buddhism.

[CGolf]

7:16 mahayana
2:39 therevada
11:47 vajrayana

[alberttharchin]

Being a mahayana Buddhist I request u that question and criticise us and on buddhism as much as u can. Blind faith is the cause of decline of buddhism. U have lots of knowledge of buddhism, so whenever u meet a Buddhist plz must ask so many question . Thanks for learning and teaching buddhism behalf of all Buddhist.

[AnnaBananaRepublic]

I’ve been having a hard time finding simple explanations about Buddhism. I appreciate the fact that you’re breaking things down logically, before getting into all of the philosophical stuff.

[hzorkic]

2:37 Theravada Buddhism
- Insight Driven
- Focus on the historical buddha
- Less Ritual
- Less Hierarchical
- Rational and Conceptual Clarity in their teachings
- Uses interpreted texts
- Become awakened reduce greed, hatred, ignorance does not focus on buddha nature
- Very strict monks

7:21 Mahayana Buddhism
- Encompasses Zen, Tibeten, Pure Land Buddhism
- Devotional Driven (robes, incense, bells, elaborate rooms)
- Mantra and ritual based practice
- Guru and Teacher based. You would
- Very relaxed monks
- Break reliance on Reason to understand the world. More non-rational.
- Uses more modern texts

11:46 Vajrayana Buddhism
- Tantric Buddhism
- Intensely guru based, typically work with one teacher for years and years
- Intensely hierarchical
- Devotional Focused
- Initiation rights to bind to gods, gurus, etc.
- Mantras, Mudras
- Texts are VERY powerful
- A lot of aspects are kept secret and not able to be studied without leacher (sex, alcohol, etc. )

[TeenwerT]

Im from Thailand. And This channel gives me more reliable information than my 12 years in school

[florindacollins]

I am 51 years old. And just in the last week, have been interested in learning about Buddhism. I am glad I came across your channel. You are a good teacher. I have subscribed to your channel. Thank you.

[JohnGrove]

Secular Buddhism seems to make the most sense to me. Stories of people remembering past lives and re-birth sound as fantastical as unicorns. But using Buddhism to sharpen your morality and behavior and using meditation to calm yourself, get centered is to me the most important concepts of Buddhism. I've been attending a Buddhist temple in town and they are some of the most non-judgemental and kindest people I've ever met.

[junipercedar]

Thank you so much for this video!

I left the Jehovah’s Witness religion with my husband last summer. We’ve decided Christianity isn’t for us, so we’re exploring eastern spirituality. We feel as if it represents us better.

We are going to a Buddhist temple tomorrow, and by watching this video, we are much more informed— and prefer the Theravāda temple!

[klo]

I know this is an old vid but I just found this now and as someone interested in Buddhism this is so informative and easy to digest. Trying to find info about the schools through self research was sooo confusing

[votuvan]

I have been an Asia traditional practitioner my entire life. This is my first time listening to to a Western Buddhist view. You did great!!! From your pronunciation to the background images, they are really gorgeous and precious. Thank you so much for spreading the words!!! Keep up a good work

[meelaranda]

Hi Doug! I've been attracted to buddhism for a long time, but every time I try to study or practice it I feel overwhelmed and I don't know where to start, your videos are helping me a lot, so thank you so much for doing this ✨ I'm sending you good wishes from Argentina!

[blueprincesses]

I first know Buddhism when I was 7 years old through my Dad. I read some Mahayana Sutras, I find it long and quite hard for me to understand. Meanwhile I later read the 5 Nikaya Pali Sutra (which I believe they belong to Theravada Buddhism), I find them simple and easier to understand. The context in Pali Sutra is close to ancient Indian lives, many simple examples Buddha use to explain his teachings.

[bobsiddoway]

Great overview! Even though I’ve considered myself Buddhist for a decade and been to one of Thich Nhat Hahn’s monasteries and did a day of mindfulness, read many books, and taught meditation groups, I still get the different schools confused and overlapped mentally. Granted, I mostly take what’s helpful for me and leave the rest. Great vid. Best wishes.

[thegreatest_ar]

I'm not entirely sure why, but everytime I'm having a hard time in my life, I end up finding myself back on your channel. Good material my friend.

[moonlightning]

As someone who is recently convinced by the core ideas of the four truths and eightfold path, I’m conflicted, because I’m drawn towards the rationalism in Theravada, but I’m also drawn towards the compassion towards others and the bodhisattva vows and so forth in mahayana. I don’t care for devotional practices, but I feel rituals in general have a practical purpose of spiritual centering/re-centering and strengthening conviction if that makes sense. Meanwhile the very few western/secular buddhists I have met seem to largely be interested in adopting only the aesthetic of a buddhist while cherrypicking concepts and practices that match pop psychology and the self-help industry, ultimately more interested in personal improvement for the end goal of material benefits rather than a cessation of suffering in either the self or others. But I can’t help be drawn to the idea of secularism as an empiricist myself. But this is the perspective of a prospective outsider, just voicing my frustration with not feeling like any school is a good fit for me rather than trying to disparage anybody

[jorayner]

At 54 I’m wanting to expand my knowledge and understanding of Buddhism as feel this could be a path for me. Thank you for these amazing videos

[optimisticintegration]

I love your clarity, humility, and your open minded depictions of the various schools of thought. It is a difficult world we live in and your words are helpful in both dealing with it, and giving the opportunity to still enjoy life. "Live long and prosper." modern Buddhist friend. ;)

[nightmeds]

Hi Doug! I found your channel maybe two years ago at the beginning of quarantine and now two years later I’ve fully found myself as also a secular buddhist.

In many ways, I’ve found you to be my “guru” or teacher when it comes to learning more about buddhism and finding new methods and concepts shared in the pali canon and other texts of early buddhism that has really resonated and affirmed my beliefs. Like what you say in every intro of your videos, I’ve found myself becoming kinder, wiser, and living a more fulfilling life.

I think what I’m trying to say with this message is thank you for making these videos. Without it, I wouldn’t have realized how compatible buddhism is to my life as someone who has left roman catholicism and faced many times I felt adrift, bouncing between athiest and agnosticism. Keep up the good work and I hope to see more videos soon!!