There is one Sta, which Mahayana brought. Poluar name is "The Heart Sutra". Theravada does not accept this Sta as being part of Buddhas teachings(even though it could have been, as it is a very beautiful Sta). There are too many inconsistencies in the claims the Mahayana's made 2000 years ago, where one of them place the Buddha in two difference places at the same time.
The practise of Mahayana tend to be more external than Theravada which goes fully for the internal practise.
Mahayana uses Sanskrit, where Therevada use Pali.
Many of the texts written in Pali are not recognised by Mahayana.
There is a monk who knows much more about this than me on http://theravada.dk
Ask in the forum
The Theravada tradition of Buddhism is practiced primarily in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, etc.). The Mahayana tradition is practiced primarily in East Asia (China, Korea, Japan). Over the past 50 years, both traditions have spread to the West.
Theravada teachings are based on the Pali Canon, a collection of works that claim to be the earliest teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, along with commentaries on these teachings.
Mahayana teachings include the Pali Canon but also include later works that claim to be the Buddha's teaching, but in fact were developed 200-400 years after Buddha's death.
To grossly oversimplify:
Theravada practices focus primarily on personal liberation and the attainment of nirvana (which ends the cycle of rebirth).
Mahayana practices focus primarily on attaining enlightenment but then returning life after life to help others also attain enlightenment. This is called the Bodhisattva Way.
Theravada is the oldest existing school of Buddhism. It's practiced mostly in southeast Asia today, and it's a heavily monastic tradition. Practitioners focus on studying the Tripitaka, the "three baskets" of Buddhist scriptures that recorded the Buddha's words for the first time. These are also known as the Pali canon, after the language they're written in. The goal in Theravada is to live a simple life based on the Buddha's teachings and achieve enlightenment, as an Earhart, a "worthy one," enlightened like the Buddha. This is the most non-theistic (some would say atheistic) path of Buddhism, and it's largely monastic. Its focus is on rigorous analysis of everything ... including the Buddha's teachings themselves.
Mahayana Buddhism is the more widely practiced tradition. The types of Buddhism we're more used to in the West, including Zen, have grown out of Mayhana. Lots of cultures have woven their own native beliefs into Mahayana traditions, so that you'll find these Buddhists talking of giving reverence to figures like Kwan Yin, the goddess of compassion. Some take these figures literally; others use them as symbolic focal points for creating a more enlightened mind. As for scriptures, Mahayana follows later-written straws in addition to (or sometimes in place of) the Tripitaka of the Theravada tradition. Instead of focusing on enlightening oneself, the spiritual ideal of the Mahayana tradition is the Bodhisattva -- a person who delays BuddhasOdo go back into the world, to help enlighten other beings.
I hope that's enough to get you started. Check out buhddhanet.net for lots more.
In answer to your question I am re posting my response to a similar question.
According to the Ven. Dr. W. Rahula (From: "Gems of Buddhist Wisdom", Buddhist Missionary Society, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1996):
"...what is the difference between Mahayana and Theravada?
"I have studied Mahayana for many years and the more I study it, the more I find there is hardly any difference between Theravada and Mahayana with regard to the fundamental teachings.
- Both accept Sakyamuni Buddha as the Teacher.
- The Four Noble Truths are exactly the same in both schools.
- The Eightfold Path is exactly the same in both schools.
- The Paticca-sappedAda the Dependent Origination is the same in both schools.
- Both rejected the idea of a supreme being who created and governed this world.
- Both accept Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta and Sila, Samadhi, Panna without any difference.
"These are the most important teachings of the Buddha and they are all accepted by both schools without question.
"There are also some points where they differ. An obvious one is the Bodhisattva ideal. Many people say that Mahayana is for the Bodhisattvahood which leads to Buddhahood while Theravada is for Arahantship. I must point out that the Buddha was also an Arahant. Pacceka Buddha is also an Arahant. A disciple can also be an Arahant. The Mahayana texts never use the term Arahant-yana, Arahant Vehicle. They used three terms: Bodhisattvayana, Prateka-Buddhayana, and Sravakayana. In the Theravada tradition these three are called Bodhis.
"Some people imagine that Theravada is selfish because it teaches that people should seek their own salvation. But how can a selfish person gain Enlightenment? Both schools accept the three Yanas or Bodhis but consider the Bodhisattva ideal as the highest. The Mahayana has created many mystical Bodhisattvas while the Theravada considers a Bodhisattva as a man amongst us who devotes his entire life for the attainment of perfection, ultimately becoming a fully Enlightened Buddha for the welfare of the world, for the happiness of the world."
( from http://www.budsas.org/ebud/ebdha125.htm )
For a concise chart contrasting the two traditions please see http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/snapshot02.htm .
I hope this is of some assistance.
The main difference between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism is the goal of enlightenment. Theravada focuses with becoming an Arhat, the lowest stage of enlightenment where you can enter Nirvana, as soon as possible. Mahayana focuses on becoming a Buddha, the highest stage of enlightenment, in order to help as many living beings as possible to attain Nirvana.
So in summary, Theravada is: attain enlightenment and then help others when possible. Mahayana is: attain enlightenment while helping others on the way.
Mahayana means "big vehicle." It's opposite is "Hinayana" which means "small vehicle". It doesn't mean that one is "better than" the other. It is not a derogatory term. It simply means that the scope of the practice of the Hinayana's (their own personal liberation) is less-than the scope of the practice of the Mahayanist (enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings). Theravada is a practice lineage categorized as a "Hinayana" lineage because its adherents seek to liberate themselves alone. This is very good! Anyone who takes account of their own actions and seeks to change their day-to-day behavior for the benefit of future lives is practicing Dharma.
How do Mahayana and Theravad Buddhism differ?
