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EASTERN RELIGIONS LEVEL 2 Summarise and discuss the origin and development of Mahayana Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism in the modern era is the largest Buddhist tradition, throughout its development, however, it was very much a minority interest. It distinguishes itself from the more conservative Theraveda school,1 through its emphasis on the supramundane personality of the Buddha, the Bodhisattva ideal, the philosophy of the Shunyata, and its rejection of religious elitism.2 The origins of Mahayana Buddhism, are very obscure as it has no geographical or conceptual origins.3 Emerging sometime between 150 BCE and 100 CE, Mahayana is probably the culmination and indirect successor of various earlier developments.4 The earlier Mahasanghika school (Universal Assembly), for example, shared many of the Mahayana aspirations. As their name suggests they rejected religious elitism, believing it possible for enlightenment achievable outside the confines of the monastery by the practicing laity. The teaching of the emptiness of dharmas (dharmasunyata), another characteristic...

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