Mahāyāna distinguishes itself above all through its vision of the spiritual goal and the ideal practitioner. Rather than centering on the arhat who attains personal liberation from rebirth, Mahāyāna elevates the bodhisattva, one who aspires to full Buddhahood for the benefit of all beings and is willing to postpone final nirvāṇa until others are liberated. This shift reframes practice as a universal project: one’s own awakening is understood as inseparable from the awakening of others. Compassion and wisdom are treated as twin pillars of the path, with great compassion standing alongside the penetrating insight into reality.

This vision is supported by characteristic doctrines and scriptural sources. Mahāyāna develops the teaching of emptiness, extending earlier reflections on non-self and impermanence to emphasize that all phenomena are empty of inherent existence. Many Mahāyāna texts also speak of Buddha-nature, the claim that all sentient beings possess an innate potential for Buddhahood. These teachings are preserved in a wide range of Mahāyāna sūtras—such as the Prajñāpāramitā literature and the Lotus Sūtra—which are regarded as deeper or more expansive expressions of the Buddha’s message beyond the Pāli Canon relied upon in Theravāda.

The understanding of the Buddha and the cosmos likewise takes on a broader, more visionary character. Mahāyāna elaborates the notion of multiple Buddhas and advanced bodhisattvas who dwell in various realms and can be approached through devotion and practice. Closely related is the doctrine of the Buddha’s multiple “bodies,” which allows the Buddha to be seen not only as a historical teacher but also as a cosmic, enduring presence. This richer cosmology does not replace ethical discipline and meditation but situates them within a vast network of compassionate activity extending throughout space and time.

In daily practice, Mahāyāna places strong emphasis on the bodhisattva path as a concrete way of life. Practitioners cultivate the perfections—such as generosity, ethical conduct, patience, energy, meditation, and wisdom—as expressions of their vow to aid all beings. Devotional and visualization practices directed toward Buddhas and bodhisattvas, like Avalokiteśvara or Amitābha, are often employed as skillful means to deepen faith, compassion, and insight. Through these methods, the path is framed not merely as an individual ascent but as a shared journey, where every step toward awakening is consciously dedicated to the welfare of all.