Being a westerner and raised in baptist home it is difficult to comprehend a devotion to self pursuit of spiritual awareness but I would like to understand more. This week I read about Buddhism trying to understand the difference in Theravadins and Mahayana Buddhism. The contrast reminds me of Hasidic Jews and non-orthodox jews or Southern Baptist and non-denominational sects. As a non-religious person it is difficult to understand the degrees of orthodoxy, but I do find it fascinating.
Theravadins are consider more orthodox than Mahayana. Theravadins believe Buddhism to be simple and straightforward, abstain from evil to accumulate good. They follow “the Noble Eightfold Path which consist of Right View, Right Resolve, Right Speech, Right Actions, Right Occupation, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration (http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/schools1.htm). They believe all suffering is caused by craving. Once this is understood it is natural to rid oneself of the Eightfold path to proceed to Arhat afterlife.
Mahayana is divided into two major sect Madhyamika and the Yogacara. Both view inward transformation as the path to enlightenment. Madhyamika are different that they emphasize a middle path between two poles in existence or non-existence. Yogacara believe that one may pause in their spiritual journey by remaining in the service of others before they choose to continue on to attain Bodhi.