Page 15 - Popular Deities of Chinese Buddhism (Illustrated) and Symbols

In Hinayana, the main aim of the strenuous religious disci-

plines is to develop oneself into a spiritual being of the highest

level, that of an A, a ‘worthy one’ or a ‘perfected being’,

who is able to bring to an end, the repeated rounds of rebirths

in the suffering worlds known as Samsara. Within Samsara

are six different kinds of existences: that of the Devas (gods),

Asuras (demi-gods), Humans, Animals, Pretas (ghosts) and

Hell-beings. Each being in these worlds or realms are subject

to the pains of birth, disease, old age and death which will be

discussed in details later on.

Mahayana Buddhism is Devotional Buddhism which requires

its adherents to put full faith in the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

who possess the infinite power to save all beings. It is the path

of compassion and it rejects the idea of pursuit of Nirvana as a

lone quest which is considered self-centred and selfish. It also

teaches the concept of the Bodhisattva who is fully concerned

in the salvation of all living beings. Bodhisattvahood, there-

fore, is the goal of the Mahayana which requires a resolve to

win full enlightenment for the benefit of all that lives, and

thereafter, until Buddhahood, passes countless lifetimes in the

practice of the Six Perfections (Paramitas) of Giving, Moral-

ity, Patience, Perseverance, Meditation and Wisdom. rough

the practice of Giving, Morality and Patience, vast merits are

gained; through the practice of Meditation and Wisdom, tran-

scendental Knowledge is attained; and in order to be success-

ful in these practices the Perfection of Perseverance must be

accomplished.

 