Mahāyāna sūtras stand at the heart of the Mahāyāna tradition because they function as its primary scriptural and doctrinal foundation. In them, central teachings such as emptiness (śūnyatā), Buddha-nature (tathāgatagarbha), and the expansive vision of Buddhahood are articulated and elaborated. These texts present a path oriented toward universal liberation rather than individual enlightenment alone, thereby giving clear shape to the bodhisattva ideal. By complementing and expanding upon earlier Buddhist scriptures, they provide an authoritative framework through which Mahāyāna communities understand the Buddha’s message.

Equally significant is the way these sūtras define and structure the bodhisattva path. They describe the stages (bhūmis), the perfections (pāramitās), and the vows that guide one who aspires to awakening for the benefit of all beings. The notion of skillful means (upāya) is emphasized, showing how compassion can take many forms in order to meet beings where they are. In this way, the sūtras offer both a lofty ideal and very concrete guidance for practice, shaping ethical conduct, meditation, and the cultivation of wisdom.

The Mahāyāna sūtras also serve as the seedbed for major philosophical developments within Buddhism. Texts such as the Prajñāpāramitā literature and the Lotus Sūtra provide the conceptual resources for schools like Madhyamaka and Yogācāra, which explore the nature of reality, perception, and emptiness in great depth. At the same time, they present a vision of a cosmos filled with buddhas and bodhisattvas, and they introduce celestial figures and Pure Land imagery that become focal points for devotion. Through these narratives and symbols, the sūtras open a vast imaginative and contemplative space in which faith, insight, and compassion can mutually reinforce one another.

Finally, these scriptures shape the living religious life of Mahāyāna communities through ritual and liturgy. Chanting, recitation, and ceremonial use of key sūtras form the backbone of communal practice across diverse cultures. In this role, the texts are not merely studied as philosophy but are enacted as a path, continually re-inscribing the bodhisattva vision into the hearts and minds of practitioners.