Sangha:

The Buddha began a community of monks (bikshus) and nuns (bikshunis). But Buddhism also has many lay followers. They will gather at local temples or monasteries sometimes referred to as viharas or Wats. In some Buddhist countries one can find great towers, or stupas, which house relics of the Buddha or other revered Buddhist teachers. Buddhists practice many different kinds of meditation, among which are "insight meditation," or Vipasana. Those who are advanced in the practice may be called arhant (arhat) and, it is said, they sometimes exhibit miraculous powers known as siddhas.

Becoming a Novice Monk

Meditation, Buddhist style

Major Divisions:

Over time, Buddhism spread throughout the Far East and many different schools of Buddhism developed. Among the major schools there is the "Way of the Elders" or Theravada, found primarily in southeast Asia, and the "Great Vehicle" or Mahayana (found primarily in northeast Asia). Each school of Buddhism has developed its own unique practices and beliefs. One distinctive belief of the Great Vehicle is that of the BodhiSattva - the "wise being" who helps others to gain enlightenment. These beings may be in human form on earth or in heavenly realms. One of these is the "Buddha of mercy and compassion" known as Kwan Yin in China and also known by the Indian name Avalokitsvara. The Great Vehicle school also teaches that the Buddha takes on three forms, a principle thus known as Trikaya. The historical or worldly Buddha was one of these forms; so too will be the future Buddha yet to come, known as Maitreya. The heavenly Buddhas and Bodhisattvas comprise another of these forms. The Buddha Dharma - the principle of enlightenment itself - is the third form.

Mahayana sects:

Among the sects of the Great Vehicle is Jodo Shin Shu, the Pure Land School, which relies on faith in the grace of Amida Buddha to gain entry into the Pure Land when they die. This school also chants the NemButSu, singing praises to Amida Buddha for his grace and their salvation. Other schools within the Great Vehicle include Tendai, Shingon, Nichiren, and Soka Gakkai. The last of these chants from the Lotus Sutra which speaks of all beings as having the Buddha Nature and thus capable of becoming Buddhas.

Zen Buddhism:

One well-known school of Buddhism is Zen, the school of meditation. The zazen, or sitting meditation these Buddhists do, is aimed at achieving a state of emptiness or sunyata and sudden enlightenment known as satori. These Buddhists often sit in meditation together in a meditation school known as a zendo. Here, under the watchful eye of the master, or roshi, they may be given a paradoxical riddle, known as a koan, to meditate on. The idea is for them to realize that enlightenment goes beyond the capacity of reason. The riddles have no answer and they will achieve a level of enlightenment when they accept that there is no answer to the puzzle.

Explaining Zen

A Zen Buddhist Monk (Thich Nhat Hanh) speaks on peace and violence

An American Convert to Zen