Mahāyāna thought tends to regard the great variety of religions and spiritual disciplines as expressions of “skillful means” (upāya): different methods suited to the diverse capacities, temperaments, and cultural conditions of beings. From this perspective, teachings that encourage ethical conduct, concentration, generosity, or devotion—whether explicitly Buddhist or not—can function as provisional aids on a much longer journey toward awakening. Such paths are often seen as valid in a relative sense, even if they are considered incomplete when measured against the ideal of full realization of emptiness and Buddhahood. This graded view allows for a hierarchy of truths without dismissing the partial value of other approaches.

Underlying this openness is the Mahāyāna doctrine of universal Buddha-nature (tathāgatagarbha), which affirms that all sentient beings possess the potential for enlightenment regardless of religious affiliation. Because every being is seen as a future buddha, other traditions can be interpreted as steps along a broader, multi-life trajectory toward awakening rather than as dead ends. The bodhisattva ideal reinforces this stance: compassion is directed toward all beings, not only those who identify as Buddhists, and the primary concern is the alleviation of suffering rather than the defense of sectarian boundaries. Critique, when it appears, is typically aimed at specific views—such as belief in a permanent self or an eternal creator—rather than at the worth of the persons who hold them.

Historically, Mahāyāna communities have often embodied this inclusivity through a practical pluralism, adapting to and interacting with surrounding religious cultures. In various regions, Mahāyāna has coexisted and intertwined with other traditions, interpreting shared practices and symbols through its own doctrinal lens while allowing multiple forms of religious expression to flourish side by side. This pattern reflects a view in which diverse paths, though differing in depth and ultimate scope, can still serve as meaningful stages on the gradual path of spiritual development.