The schools of Buddhism 宗派
One teacher, many rivers. Every school claims the same root, the Buddha's awakening, and grew in its own soil.
| School | Vehicle | Began | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theravada (Way of the Elders) | Early / Theravada | Roots in the 3rd c. BCE; Sri Lanka from c. 250 BCE | Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia; the Insight Meditation movement in the West |
| Madhyamaka (Middle Way) | Mahayana philosophy | c. 2nd c. CE | The foundation of Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese Mahayana |
| Yogacara (Mind-Only) | Mahayana philosophy | c. 4th c. | East Asian Faxiang; part of the Tibetan curriculum |
| Tiantai / Tendai | Mahayana (East Asia) | 6th c. | China; Japan (Mount Hiei) |
| Huayan / Kegon | Mahayana (East Asia) | 7th c. | China, Korea (Hwaeom), Japan (Todaiji, Nara) |
| Pure Land | Mahayana (East Asia) | 4th–5th c. (Huiyuan, 402); Japan 12th–13th c. | China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan (Jodo-shu, Jodo Shinshu); the Denver Buddhist Temple is Jodo Shinshu |
| Chan / Zen / Seon / Thien | Mahayana (East Asia) | 5th–7th c. China | Shaolin and temples across China; Korea; Japan; Vietnam; Zen centers worldwide |
| Linji / Rinzai Zen | Chan / Zen branch | 9th c. China; Japan 1191 | Japan (Myoshinji, Kenninji), Korea, the West |
| Caodong / Soto Zen | Chan / Zen branch | 9th c. China; Japan 1227 | Japan (Eiheiji, Sojiji), the West |
| Korean Seon (Jogye Order) | Chan / Zen branch | 9th c.; united by Jinul, 12th c. | Korea (Haeinsa, Songgwangsa), worldwide |
| Vietnamese Thien / Plum Village | Chan / Zen branch | 6th c.; Plum Village 1982 | Vietnam, France (Plum Village), USA (Deer Park, Blue Cliff, Magnolia Grove) |
| Nichiren Buddhism | Mahayana (Japan) | 1253 | Japan; worldwide (Soka Gakkai, Nichiren Shu, Rissho Kosei-kai) |
| Shingon (Japanese esoteric) | Vajrayana (East Asia) | 806 | Japan (Mount Koya) |
| Tibetan Vajrayana | Vajrayana | 7th–11th c. | Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Mongolia, Ladakh, Dharamsala; centers worldwide (Shambhala Mountain Center and Denver Diamond Way in Colorado) |
| Modern movements | Contemporary | 19th–20th c. | Worldwide, including Denver and the Twin Cities |
Early / Theravada
Theravada (Way of the Elders) 上座部
The oldest surviving school, which keeps the Pali Canon. Monks follow the ancient Vinaya, and the ideal is the arahant who has realized nirvana.
- Began
- Roots in the 3rd c. BCE; Sri Lanka from c. 250 BCE
- Founders
- Lineage of the Elders (Sthavira); Mahinda in Sri Lanka
- Practice
- Mindfulness (satipatthana), breath meditation (anapanasati), loving-kindness (metta), the forest tradition, and almsround and merit.
- Key texts
- Pali Tipitaka, Dhammapada, Visuddhimagga
- Where
- Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia; the Insight Meditation movement in the West
Mahayana philosophy
Madhyamaka (Middle Way) 中觀
The philosophy of emptiness: nothing has fixed inherent existence, and that is exactly why everything can change and awakening is possible.
- Began
- c. 2nd c. CE
- Founders
- Nagarjuna
- Practice
- Analytical meditation and debate.
- Key texts
- Mulamadhyamakakarika, Prajnaparamita sutras
- Where
- The foundation of Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese Mahayana
Yogacara (Mind-Only) 唯識
A detailed map of consciousness, including the storehouse consciousness (alaya). Experience is shaped by mind.
- Began
- c. 4th c.
- Founders
- Asanga and Vasubandhu
- Practice
- Yoga and meditation, and the study of the eight consciousnesses.
- Key texts
- Lankavatara Sutra, Thirty Verses, Cheng Weishi Lun
- Where
- East Asian Faxiang; part of the Tibetan curriculum
Mahayana (East Asia)
Tiantai / Tendai 天台
Built around the Lotus Sutra, with a grand system of the "three truths" and balanced calm-and-insight (zhiguan) meditation.
- Began
- 6th c.
- Founders
- Zhiyi (538–597); Saicho brought it to Japan (Tendai, 805)
- Practice
- Zhiguan meditation, Lotus recitation, repentance rites.
- Key texts
- Lotus Sutra, Mohe Zhiguan
- Where
- China; Japan (Mount Hiei)
Huayan / Kegon 華嚴
Indra's net: every jewel reflects every other, and all things interpenetrate without obstruction.
- Began
- 7th c.
- Founders
- Dushun, Fazang
- Practice
- Contemplation of interpenetration and the bodhisattva path.
- Key texts
- Avatamsaka (Flower Garland) Sutra
- Where
- China, Korea (Hwaeom), Japan (Todaiji, Nara)
Pure Land 淨土
Trust in the compassionate vow of Amitabha Buddha to bring all who call his name to the Pure Land of Bliss. It is the most widely practised Buddhism in East Asia.
- Began
- 4th–5th c. (Huiyuan, 402); Japan 12th–13th c.
- Founders
- Huiyuan, Tanluan, Shandao; Honen and Shinran in Japan
- Practice
- Reciting "Namo Amituofo" (Namu Amida Butsu), visualization, gratitude.
- Key texts
- The three Pure Land sutras: the Larger and Smaller Sukhavativyuha (Amitabha Sutra) and the Contemplation Sutra
- Where
- China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan (Jodo-shu, Jodo Shinshu); the Denver Buddhist Temple is Jodo Shinshu
Chan / Zen / Seon / Thien 禪
The meditation school. It points directly at the mind, "a special transmission outside the scriptures". Shaped by Daoist simplicity, it was born in China (traditionally at the Shaolin Temple) and spread to Korea (Seon), Japan (Zen) and Vietnam (Thien).
- Began
- 5th–7th c. China
- Founders
- Bodhidharma (1st patriarch, at Shaolin) → Huike → Sengcan → Daoxin → Hongren → Huineng (6th)
- Practice
- Zazen (seated meditation), koans, walking meditation (kinhin), work as practice, and at Shaolin, kung fu as moving Chan.
- Key texts
- Platform Sutra, Faith in Mind (Xinxin Ming), Blue Cliff Record, Gateless Gate, Record of Linji, Shobogenzo
- Where
- Shaolin and temples across China; Korea; Japan; Vietnam; Zen centers worldwide
Chan / Zen branch
Linji / Rinzai Zen 臨濟
A dynamic Zen of koan practice and sudden breakthrough. It shaped the samurai arts, the tea ceremony and the gardens.
- Began
- 9th c. China; Japan 1191
- Founders
- Linji Yixuan; Eisai, Hakuin
- Practice
- Koan training, zazen, sesshin retreats.
- Key texts
- Record of Linji, Blue Cliff Record, Gateless Gate
- Where
- Japan (Myoshinji, Kenninji), Korea, the West
Caodong / Soto Zen 曹洞
"Just sitting" (shikantaza): practice and awakening are one. The largest Zen school in Japan and the West (Minnesota Zen Meditation Center, Clouds in Water).
- Began
- 9th c. China; Japan 1227
- Founders
- Dongshan Liangjie & Caoshan; Dogen
- Practice
- Shikantaza, oryoki (mindful eating), daily temple life.
- Key texts
- Shobogenzo, Fukanzazengi, Sandokai, Hokyo Zanmai
- Where
- Japan (Eiheiji, Sojiji), the West
Korean Seon (Jogye Order) 禪 (선)
Korean Zen centred on the hwadu (key phrase) and the great mountain monasteries.
- Began
- 9th c.; united by Jinul, 12th c.
- Founders
- Jinul, Hyujeong
- Practice
- Hwadu meditation, three-month retreats, prostrations.
- Key texts
- Secrets on Cultivating the Mind
- Where
- Korea (Haeinsa, Songgwangsa), worldwide
Vietnamese Thien / Plum Village 禪 (Thiền)
Gentle mindfulness for everyday life: walking, breathing, eating and engaged compassion.
- Began
- 6th c.; Plum Village 1982
- Founders
- Vinitaruci; Thich Nhat Hanh (Plum Village, Order of Interbeing)
- Practice
- Mindful breathing, walking meditation, Dharma sharing.
- Key texts
- Heart Sutra, Discourse on the Full Awareness of Breathing
- Where
- Vietnam, France (Plum Village), USA (Deer Park, Blue Cliff, Magnolia Grove)
Mahayana (Japan)
Nichiren Buddhism 日蓮
Devotion to the Lotus Sutra through chanting its title, "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo".
- Began
- 1253
- Founders
- Nichiren
- Practice
- Daimoku chanting, gongyo recitation.
- Key texts
- Lotus Sutra, Nichiren's writings
- Where
- Japan; worldwide (Soka Gakkai, Nichiren Shu, Rissho Kosei-kai)
Vajrayana (East Asia)
Shingon (Japanese esoteric) 真言
Esoteric Buddhism of mantra, mudra and mandala: becoming Buddha in this very body.
- Began
- 806
- Founders
- Kukai (Kobo Daishi)
- Practice
- Mantra, mudra, mandala visualization, ajikan (A-syllable meditation).
- Key texts
- Mahavairocana Sutra, Vajrasekhara Sutra
- Where
- Japan (Mount Koya)
Vajrayana
Tibetan Vajrayana 金剛乘
The "diamond vehicle": the Mahayana path plus tantra, with deity yoga, mantra, the guru relationship, and Dzogchen and Mahamudra (the nature of mind). Four main schools: Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug.
- Began
- 7th–11th c.
- Founders
- Padmasambhava, Shantarakshita, Atisha, Marpa, Milarepa, Tsongkhapa
- Practice
- Ngondro (preliminaries), deity yoga, mantra (Om Mani Padme Hum), tonglen, debate, Dzogchen/Mahamudra.
- Key texts
- Kangyur & Tengyur, Bardo Thodol, Bodhicaryavatara, Lamrim Chenmo, Songs of Milarepa
- Where
- Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Mongolia, Ladakh, Dharamsala; centers worldwide (Shambhala Mountain Center and Denver Diamond Way in Colorado)
Contemporary
Modern movements
Lay-centred, often non-sectarian Buddhism: mindfulness in daily life, social engagement, meditation retreats.
- Began
- 19th–20th c.
- Founders
- Many: Thich Nhat Hanh, the Insight movement, Shambhala, Triratna, Soka Gakkai and others
- Practice
- Retreats, sitting groups, mindfulness-based programs.
- Key texts
- Varies
- Where
- Worldwide, including Denver and the Twin Cities