The Two Great Traditions of Buddhism

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One Pillar Pagoda
 Mahayana Buddhist Temple in Hanoi, Vietnam
The history of Buddhism is divided into two traditions Theravada and Mahayana. Theravada Buddhism focuses on Buddha's Eightfold paths and Five Dedications to enlightenment, while Mahayana uses newer teaching rather than solely on the original teaching.

Theravada or Hinayana, can be interpreted as the "stricter" teaching to enlightenment. The word "Theravada" literally means "teaching (doctrine) of the elders" which emphasizes the depth of the strict pathways to enlightenment if someone was to follow this path (Bresnan 221). While Mahayana is a Sanskirt word that literally means "Great Vehicle" which can be interpreted as not certain people can follow this path but a broader group(Bresnan 232).

Image result for theravada tradition
Theravada Meditation
Artistic expression has been an influence on the rise of Mahayana and Theravada. A great flowering of Buddhist art was accompanied by the rise of Mahayana. In Theravada "traditions deliberately abstained from honoring the memory of Buddha with artistic likenesses" since they were not entirely iconoclastic. While Mahayana had its unique style of sculptures, paintings, architecture and other forms provided an inspiration to Buddist ideals. Overall "what Theravada shunned, Mahayana welcomed with open arms" which provided an evolution of style within the tradition that led to the incorporation of newer teachings (Bresnan 256).

Work Cited:
Patrick S. Bresnan. Fifth Edition Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern, 1999
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Pillar_Pagoda
https://mangalamcenter.com/kate-crosby-on-why-traditional-theravada-meditation-looks-like-tantra/

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