To: talk.religion.buddhism
From: seandpk@aol.com (SeanDPK)
Subject: Re: Big vehicle and small vehicle
Date: 5 Nov 1994 02:31:54 GMT

To follow up on Jack's interesting information, I was taught that
Theravadan is the sect that adheres most closely to the oldest of the
Buddhist scriptures.  As I remember, a schism occured 400-600 years after
the Buddha's death, with the Theravadans and the Mahayanas differing over
what of the existing texts could be regarded as authentic and acceptable. 
Terms used to describe this schism are the "greater" and "lesser" baskets,
with the Mahayana groups accepting more texts and a broader sweep of
Buddhist myth and tradition, and the Theravadans choosing a smaller set.

Most Buddhisim in the West comes out of Mahayana traditions.  I am not
aware of any Theravadan centers of any kind in the U.S., and have only
recently heard of one in England which was discussed in Tricycle. 
Consequently, many of the images of Theravadan Buddhisim in this country
are more negitive.  There was a recent article in Tricycle discussing how
people are discovering (though Theravadans have know it all along) there
is a strong social tradition in this sect.

I studied with a Theravadan monk from Sri Lanka in university.  He is an
excellent Buddhist.

- Sean