Schools of Buddhism
There are many divisions and subdivisions of the schools of Buddhism. An extensive list of historical schools is given below according to lineage. Surviving schools can be roughly grouped under the categories of Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna. Theravāda and Mahāyāna share common methods as sutric schools, while Vajrayāna can be seen as a tantric school.
See also: Theravāda; early Buddhist schools
The initial split between Sthaviravāda and Mahāsaṃghika occurred about 100 years after Buddha's death, due to differing views concerning the rigidity of monastic rules.
Subcategorised according to predecessors
See also
Further reading
- Warder, A.K. Indian Buddhism, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1970.
