<p>By Northern Buddhism, if you mean Mahayana Buddhism and by Southern Buddhism, if you mean Theravada Buddhism, then yes there are some differences. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Theravada Buddhism talks about the Four Noble Truths etc. And while Mahayana also talks about them, Mahayana adherents are taught to transcend even those doctrines. I am unsure if this is only peculiar to the Chinese Mahayana Buddhism (where I came from). A popular Chinese Buddhist scripture, the Heart Sutra, emphasises on Sunyata or "emptiness" (空). For example, the Heart Sutra mentioned that the Four Noble Truths are "empty". (无苦集灭道)</p></li>
<li><p>The goal of Theravada Buddhism is to be an Arahant, while the goal of Mahayana Buddhism is to be a Bodhisavtta. The difference between the two is that an Arahant focuses on his or her personal enlightenment while a Bodhisavatta focuses on the enlightenment of all sentient beings.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Do note that I'm more familiar with Mahayana compared to Theravada. And I'm no expert. Feel free to criticise and comment my answer.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-21T03:01:03.983Z
2017-03-21T03:11:48.743Z
2017-03-21T03:11:48.743Z
Kyoma
<p>Buddha discourages reincarnation in any form stating he wouldn't, even for a moment, praise reincarnation. Yet, unlike in Theravada, in Mahayana one seeks strives to become a Buddha through reincarnation. </p>

<p>Becoming a Buddha, or bodhisatva isn't something Buddha has encouraged (according to Buddha Jayanthi translations of the original teachings of Buddha)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-21T03:08:55.503Z
Which sutra did the Buddha discourage reincarnation and becoming a Bodhisattva?
Kyoma
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-21T11:23:55.940Z
I didn't say Buddha has discouraged being a Bodhisattva. But are you interested in finding the places where Buddha discourages reincarnation? (I did say Buddha has discouraged reincarnation)
Ravindranath Akila
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-21T12:45:47.793Z
Yes. Please do.
Kyoma
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-22T00:13:23.170Z
I'm looking for it in the Tipitaka. I'll let you know once I find it. It's definitely in there.
Ravindranath Akila
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-22T00:41:55.080Z
Samyutta Nikaya, Salayatana Wagga, Vedana Sanyuttan, Sabbaniccha waggo, "Upassatta Sutta"
Ravindranath Akila
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-20T22:48:42.023Z
2017-03-20T22:48:42.023Z
Ravindranath Akila
<p>I could see some similarities in the Theravada  Mahayana Doctrines.</p>

<p>Mahayana and Theravada</p>

<p>Both rejected the idea of a supreme being who created and governed this world.</p>

<p>The Four Noble Truths are exactly the same in both schools. </p>

<p>Both Mahayana and Theravada doctrines help us to not being influenced by the objects of the six senses. In Mahayana they call it the becoming of Buddha Nature – to be awakened. We call it being an “Arya Shrawaka” in being a part of the ideal community of Noble Ones (ariya-sangha)</p>

<p>The Eightfold Path is exactly the same in both schools. ‘Paramita’ in Mahayana is this ‘crossing over’ and ‘reaching the other shore’ in walking the eightfold path.</p>

<p>The Paticca-samuppada or the Dependent Origination is the same in both schools.</p>

<p>Both accept Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta and Sila, Samadhi, Panna without any difference. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-20T10:12:13.680Z
2017-03-20T10:12:13.680Z
Saptha Visuddhi
<p>Regarding the Buddhist ideal model for practitioners, is there any difference between Southern Buddhism and Northern Buddhism?</p>

<lay-buddhism>
Are Southern Buddhism and Northern Buddhism the same?
# Are Southern Buddhism and Northern Buddhism the same?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-03-20)

Regarding the Buddhist ideal model for practitioners, is there any difference between Southern Buddhism and Northern Buddhism?

**Tags:** lay-buddhism


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-03-20. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

I could see some similarities in the Theravada Mahayana Doctrines.

Mahayana and Theravada

Both rejected the idea of a supreme being who created and governed this world.

The Four Noble Truths are exactly the same in both schools.

Both Mahayana and Theravada doctrines help us to not being influenced by the objects of the six senses. In Mahayana they call it the becoming of Buddha Nature – to be awakened. We call it being an “Arya Shrawaka” in being a part of the ideal community of Noble Ones (ariya-sangha)

The Eightfold Path is exactly the same in both schools. ‘Paramita’ in Mahayana is this ‘crossing over’ and ‘reaching the other shore’ in walking the eightfold path.

The Paticca-samuppada or the Dependent Origination is the same in both schools.

Both accept Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta and Sila, Samadhi, Panna without any difference.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2017-03-21. Score: 0

By Northern Buddhism, if you mean Mahayana Buddhism and by Southern Buddhism, if you mean Theravada Buddhism, then yes there are some differences.

1. Theravada Buddhism talks about the Four Noble Truths etc. And while Mahayana also talks about them, Mahayana adherents are taught to transcend even those doctrines. I am unsure if this is only peculiar to the Chinese Mahayana Buddhism (where I came from). A popular Chinese Buddhist scripture, the Heart Sutra, emphasises on Sunyata or "emptiness" (空). For example, the Heart Sutra mentioned that the Four Noble Truths are "empty". (无苦集灭道)
2. The goal of Theravada Buddhism is to be an Arahant, while the goal of Mahayana Buddhism is to be a Bodhisavtta. The difference between the two is that an Arahant focuses on his or her personal enlightenment while a Bodhisavatta focuses on the enlightenment of all sentient beings.

Do note that I'm more familiar with Mahayana compared to Theravada. And I'm no expert. Feel free to criticise and comment my answer.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-03-20. Score: 0

Buddha discourages reincarnation in any form stating he wouldn't, even for a moment, praise reincarnation. Yet, unlike in Theravada, in Mahayana one seeks strives to become a Buddha through reincarnation.

Becoming a Buddha, or bodhisatva isn't something Buddha has encouraged (according to Buddha Jayanthi translations of the original teachings of Buddha)

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Which sutra did the Buddha discourage reincarnation and becoming a Bodhisattva?  
> **username_2**: I didn't say Buddha has discouraged being a Bodhisattva. But are you interested in finding the places where Buddha discourages reincarnation? (I did say Buddha has discouraged reincarnation)  
> **username_1**: Yes. Please do.  
> **username_2**: I'm looking for it in the Tipitaka. I'll let you know once I find it. It's definitely in there.  
> **username_2**: Samyutta Nikaya, Salayatana Wagga, Vedana Sanyuttan, Sabbaniccha waggo, "Upassatta Sutta"  

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