Mahayana Background Mahayana stems from the Theravada School of Buddhism. Mahayanists believe that the Theravada-ist to be (Hinayana, meaning the lesser vehicle) Mahayanists consider themselves followers of the greater vehicle. Mahayanists, also accept much of the scripture and ritual that the Theravada-ist developed, but they believe their own scriptures to be of higher value and truth. No one knows the origins to Mahayana Buddhism, although the movement was probably started by small groups of religious …showed first 75 words of 1231 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1231 total…times during the day as well as three times during the night. There were other Buddhist rituals that weren't so stringent and monkish. These rituals included aspects of Indian Buddhism. Mahayanists followed the Indian style of worship, also known as puja, and they also carried around with them little images. Rituals involving the images included "bathing the sacred image, carrying it in procession, offering cloth, perfume, and music to the icon, and so forth." (Buddhism, 371)