Mahayana

Mahayana Buddhism teaches that there are three alternatives for attaining the final goal of Nirvana. Firstly there is the Arahant Ideal which is emphasised by the Sthaviravada or as it is currently known - the Theravada. This is release from the Samsara by following the teachings of an enlightened Buddha by the cultivation of Sila (Good Conduct), Samadhi (Mental cultivation or meditation) and Prajna (Trancendental Wisdom of seeing things as they really are). The Mahayana, on the other hand, emphasises the Bodhisattva Ideal of postponing one's liberation so that one may bring all sentient beings with you to that state of Nirvana by becoming a fully enlightened buddha, ideal, wisdom, theravadins, self, release, one, nirvana, liberation, final, enlightened, cultivation, buddhahood, attaining, arahant, wrongly, world, unjustified, transcend, trancendental, through, three, things, theravada, teachings, teaching, teaches, teach, suggest, sthaviravada, state, sila, sentient, selfish, seems