BUDDHIST SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT:
the first major division in the SAGHA is traditionally
connected with the Council of Vaiśālī approximately 100 years after death of the BUDDHA (383
BC). Disagreement arose concerning degree of strictness with which monastic discipline was
to be observed. The dissenting body henceforth became known as the Mahāsaghikas—the Great
Sagha Party—since they claimed a greater following for their more LIBERAL interpretation
of the rules. The Sthaviras (Elders) were the stricter more CONSERVATIVE group which
subsequently divided into eighteen different schools, among the more important of which
were the THERAVĀDINS. The Mahsaghikas also divided into numerous separate schools, the most
important being the Lokottaravdins, Prajñaptivdins and the Caitiyas. The MAHĀYĀNA developed
out of the Mahsaghikas tradition although its origins are obscure. The two principal
Mahyna schools in India were the MĀDHYAMIKA and the YOGĀCĀRAS. In China and Japan, Mahyna
developed into a number of schools notably the T'ien-t'ai or TENDAI, CH'AN or ZEN,
Chên-yen or SHINGON, the PURE LAND, and the NICHIREN.
