In short: Buddhism has three main schools. Theravada, the oldest surviving school, keeps the early Pali texts and is practised in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Mahayana, which includes Zen and Pure Land, spread through China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. Vajrayana, the Tibetan tradition, adds tantric practice. All share the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
The three schools at a glance
| Theravada | Mahayana | Vajrayana | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia | China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan | Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Mongolia |
| Main texts | The Pali Canon | Mahayana sutras, such as the Heart Sutra | Mahayana sutras plus the tantras |
| Ideal | The arahant, one who is fully freed | The bodhisattva, who seeks awakening for all beings | The bodhisattva, by swifter means |
| Meditation | Breath, insight (vipassana), loving-kindness | Zen sitting, Pure Land chanting | Visualisation, mantra, guru yoga |
Read the full guide
Theravada: the way of the elders
Theravada keeps the oldest complete set of the Buddha's discourses, in Pali. Practice centres on the precepts, generosity and meditation: calm (samatha) and insight (vipassana). Monks and nuns live by the monastic code, and lay people support them. Read what is Theravada Buddhism, or find Theravada monasteries.
Mahayana: the great vehicle
Mahayana stresses compassion and the bodhisattva path: awakening not only for oneself but for all beings. It includes many schools. Zen (Chan in China, Seon in Korea) puts sitting meditation at the centre; Pure Land focuses on chanting the name of Amitabha Buddha. Start with zazen for beginners or find Zen centers.
Vajrayana: the Tibetan tradition
Vajrayana builds on Mahayana and adds tantric methods: visualisation, mantra and a close bond with a teacher. Its four main schools are Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug. Most centres in the West offer introductory courses. Read visiting a Tibetan Buddhist centre, or find Tibetan Buddhist centres.
What they share
- The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path
- Impermanence, suffering and non-self
- The precepts, generosity and meditation
- Refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha
More: What is Buddhism? · Vipassana vs Zen · Find a centre
Questions people ask
What are the three main schools of Buddhism?
Theravada, practised mainly in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia; Mahayana, in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam, including Zen and Pure Land; and Vajrayana, the Tibetan tradition of the Himalayas and Mongolia.
Which school of Buddhism is best for beginners?
All three welcome beginners. Choose by the practice that suits you: simple breath and insight meditation (Theravada), sitting with posture and form (Zen), or teachings with visualisation and mantra (Tibetan).
Do the schools of Buddhism disagree?
They share the core teachings: the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, impermanence and non-self. They differ in which texts they emphasise, their ideal of practice, and their forms of meditation and ritual.