Buddhism

Theravada / Hinayana (The great tradition or the way of the elders):

Theravada teaches that there is no reality corresponding to the concept of God that we can rely on for salvation. The monastic sangha (assembly) is at the heart of the practice and as well as working towards realization and enlightenment for themselves, the role of Theravada monks is to preserve and spread the Buddhist teaching (the dharma).

Mahayana (little tradition)

Mahayan accommodated and change it's religious beliefs and practises to the religious expectations and ideas of people. They moved away from considering monks as the only elite and beyond the monastery. The Mahayan interpreted and transformed the Buddha and his teachings into divine being of personal nature and transcendence.
Mahayana speaks of a Buddha land (heaven) faithful Buddhist go after death.

Variants of Mahayana Buddhism:

Tibetan Buddhism:

A mixture of Buddhism, Tantrism and the ancient Bon religion of Tibet. They have a vast collection of scriptures (tantras), which describe powerful rituals. Their teachers (Lamas) are said to be reincarnations of holy teachers who lived in earlier times.

The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists is the Dalai Lama who is believed to be the reincarnation of Avalokiteshvara.

Zen Buddhism:

Developed from CH'an a school of Chinese Buddhism formed in the Seventh century from a blend of Taoism (Chinese philosophy outlined in the TaoTeChing). It aims is to achieve harmony with all that is by pursuing inaction and effortless) and Mahayana teachings. The school stressed experience rather than learning.

Absolute faith is placed in a person's own inner being. Zen came to Japan in the 13th century five centuries after the orthodox forms of Buddhism.

Zen teaches the possibility of enlightenment in the here and now, unlike the tendency that have developed in other strands of Buddhism as far off goals. It teaches that enlightenment is a spontaneous event, totally independent of concepts, techniques or rituals.

Pure Land Buddhism:

Buddhist sect founded by a Chinese monk called Hui Yuan (AD 334 -416). It focuses on one particular scripture which tells of a living Buddha who inhabits another world system, a far off place known as the Pure Land.

Nichiren Buddhism:

A Japanese Buddhist reformer whose teachings are based on the Mahayana Sutra (scripture) known as the Lotus Sutra.