Buddhism originated in India BC. His basic truths are that human life is constant suffering. Suffering is generated by desires from the flesh. To get rid of desires, one must follow the eightfold path of salvation.
Early Buddhist schools
The earliest schools of Buddhism are called Theravada, Vaibhashika and Sautrantika. Theravada is the most conservative of these. The most important goal of the followers of this school was to free themselves from delusions. Representatives of the Vaibhashika school recognized the existence of the real world and the adequacy of its reflection in human consciousness. They were engaged in the study and classification of dharmas. Dharmas are a set of rules and regulations necessary to maintain cosmic order.
Followers of the Sautrantika movement recognized only the sutra - the words of the Buddha - as the main material. All other sources were ignored. Many dharmas were considered by them to be conditional and not real. Recognizing the existence of the objective world, they rejected its complete correspondence to the reflection of the world in the mind of man.
Mahayana - the latest form of development of Buddhism
The Mahayana philosophical system included several currents: Zen, Yogachara, Madhyamaka, Nichirenism, Amidaism. Mahayana in translation means "great chariot", at the heart of the teachings - the development of compassion and a special kind of wisdom. Zen Buddhism provided the opportunity to become a Buddha in your body, not after death. The way to achieve this is through meditation and other practices.
Maadhyamaka believes that it is impossible to prove the reality or unreality of the dharmas. Therefore, it is worth considering that they are simply empty. There can be no truth in a person's assumptions; it can only be found in yogic contemplation. Also, representatives of this school recognize the existence of the real world. The current of Buddhism Amidaism is currently the most widespread in the Far East. Representatives of this school pay increased attention to rituals.
Vajrayana - Tantric Buddhism
This branch is characterized by a variety of yogic practices. The main emphasis in the teachings is the ability to achieve Buddhahood in one lifetime. The pantheon of gods in Vajrayana was clearly structured. The name itself translates as "diamond road". Tibetan Buddhism also belongs to this branch. Four schools of Tibetan Buddhism: Nyingma, Sakya, Gelug, Kagyu. The main idea of the teachings of the Skaia school is that the goal of the path is realized in the process of its passage. This school became famous for its political activity, trying to unite Tibet into a single state.
Also, the Buddhist school of Japan - Shingon-shu belongs to the Vajrayana branch of Buddhism. In translation, the name means "true word". This movement was founded by a monk who went to China and was trained by a preacher from India. The monk brought many Buddhist texts to Japan. On their basis, he developed his own teaching.
