Abstract
Buddhism is a major world religion which was founded in northeastern India and is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama - more commonly known as the Buddha or the Enlightened One. The worldwide followers of Buddhism number between 150 to 300 million, most of who belong to the two major branches of Buddhism--the Theravada (the "Way of the Elders") and Mahayana (the "Great Vehicle") Buddhism. This paper briefly traces the origins of the two branches of Buddhism, compares and contrasts the major theological differences between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism and explains how these differences are manifested in practice.

Paper Outline
Abstract
Theravada Buddhism: Origins and Basic Doctrine
Mahayana Buddhism: Origins and Basic Doctrine
The Main Differences: Theory and Practice
Conclusion
Works Cited

From the Paper
"Theravada monks have also been criticized by followers of Mahayana for being selfishly concerned only with their own salvation and for indifference to the lay community. According to the Mahayana doctrine, the bodhisattvas, out of a sense of compassion, delay their final passage to the transcendent state of nirvana in order to labor on behalf of others and help them in attaining salvation. They are, therefore, considered superior to the Theravadin arhat, who is mainly concerned with his own salvation but cannot help others in achieving salvation."

Tags:arhat, nirvana, Hinayana