Medieval Japan M | Page 8

Religion

There are two major forms of Buddhism. They are similar in some ways but also quite different in other ways. The Hinayana which is a more conservative Buddhist group and is now called Theravada community, compiled of the Buddha’s teachings which have been preserved in certain religious collections which are called the Sutta Pitaka and the Vinaya Pitaka. They have retained these two collections as normative which basically means that any other teachings are not legit or real. The Mahayana is the other major Buddhist group which is a bit more open to new ideas as it has recognized the authority of other teachings which they believe have made salvation more available to other people. These teachings which they believe are more advanced where only made available to the Buddha’s most advanced disciples according to them.