Mahāyāna, literally the “Great Vehicle,” is a major movement within Buddhism that arose some centuries after the Buddha’s lifetime and came to flourish especially in East Asia and the Himalayan regions. It is regarded as one of the principal branches of Buddhism, alongside Theravāda. The name “Great Vehicle” suggests a path capacious enough to carry countless beings toward awakening, and this expansive vision shapes both its doctrine and practice. In contrast to paths that emphasize primarily one’s own liberation, Mahāyāna frames spiritual life as inseparable from the liberation of all sentient beings.

At the heart of Mahāyāna stands the bodhisattva ideal. A bodhisattva aspires to full Buddhahood while vowing to work for the awakening of all beings, rather than seeking enlightenment solely for oneself. This ideal is grounded in a deep commitment to compassion (karuṇā) and wisdom (prajñā), which are regarded as mutually indispensable. Compassion expresses itself as the resolve to alleviate suffering everywhere, while wisdom discerns the true nature of phenomena, especially through the insight into emptiness (śūnyatā), the lack of inherent, independent existence in all things.

Mahāyāna thought often speaks of the universal potential for Buddhahood, sometimes articulated as Buddha-nature present in all beings. This vision undergirds the emphasis on “universal salvation,” the aspiration that no being be left outside the scope of awakening. The tradition also highlights skillful means (upāya), the compassionate use of diverse methods and teachings suited to different capacities, all oriented toward the same liberating goal. In this way, doctrinal subtlety and practical flexibility are held together in service of the bodhisattva path.

The scriptural landscape of Mahāyāna is correspondingly vast. In addition to earlier Buddhist texts, it reveres a wide range of Mahāyāna sūtras, including the Prajñāpāramitā literature, the Lotus Sūtra, and concise yet profound works such as the Heart Sūtra. These scriptures elaborate themes such as emptiness, the two truths (conventional and ultimate), and the boundless activity of buddhas and bodhisattvas. From them flow characteristic practices: taking bodhisattva vows, cultivating the six perfections (generosity, ethics, patience, energy, meditation, and wisdom), and engaging in both meditative and devotional disciplines directed toward buddhas and bodhisattvas.

Over time, Mahāyāna has given rise to a number of influential schools, such as Zen/Chan, Pure Land, Nichiren, and Tibetan Buddhism, each embodying the same core orientation in distinct forms. Philosophical traditions like Madhyamaka and Yogācāra further refine its understanding of emptiness and the nature of experience. Across these diverse expressions, a common thread remains: the conviction that genuine awakening cannot be separated from the welfare of others, and that the path to Buddhahood is, at its deepest level, a vow to accompany all beings toward freedom from suffering.