Can someone point me to an explanation of the different Buddhist sects?

Question

I have been studying Buddhism for awhile, and am pretty familiar with the three main sects, but I have since learned there are more sects of Buddhism, or perhaps these are sub-sects. If you can point me to a page where there is some good explanations, or explain what you know about any Buddhist sect, I would appreciate it.

Answer 1

Try :http://www.bswa.org
the above is one of the best site for Buddhism and they have a forum.

Answer 2

There are many subdivisions within Buddhism, but most can be classified into three major branches: Theravada ("Way of the Elders"), Mahayana ("Greater Vehicle") and Vajrayana ("Diamond Vehicle").

Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism went their separate ways in the first century CE. Mahayana then subdivided into several diverse schools, such as Zen, Pure Land and Nichiren, many of which flourish today in East Asia. The Vajrayana Buddhist tradition is an esoteric sect that is predominant in Tibet and Nepal.

Theravada Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism
Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism
Zen/Ch'an Buddhism
Tendai/T'ien Tai Buddhism
Nichiren Buddhism
Pure Land Buddhism

God Bless You

Answer 3

I have answered this before, maybe you can take this as a reference my man!

Basically there is few types of buddhism

Teravada
Mahayana
Varjayana (also known as Tantra wheel and Diamond wheel)

Teravada (known as the small vehicle)
-most unique features, the monks are not allowed to beg for food after 11 a.m as they are not allowed to eat after 11 a.m everyday
-The practitioner will practice to walk to buddha path in order to get enlightened in a few lifetime but the main focus is to enlightened oneself
-Teravada is very popular in countries like thailand, Burma and Vietnam

Mahayana (known as the big vehicle)
-Practitiner practive to ger enlightenment for the benifits of al sentient beings
-Mahayana practitioner chant sutra (1 sutra will take like 30 munites)
-More popular in countries like Hong Kong, Malaysia (where there is chinese)

Varjayana (known as the Diamond Way or Trantric)
-Originated from Tibet
-Practice is similliar to Mahayana
-They have extra, Tantric Practice but using ritual items like varja and bell and damarul (i'm doing a page to write about the ritual items for varjayana and updating it everyday)
-Varjayana practitioner practice Guru Devotion that promises enlightenment in 1 lifetime
-The Buddha and Dieties are more warthful because Tibetan Buddhism starts from Tibet and Mongolia and the Dieties is more warthful to control the warthful people of this two place
-Most easy way to see a Tibetan Buddhist is during prostration, they will lie on the floor which means surrender one self to the dharma

There is too much information to share with you, maybe you can visit my blog which I update every 2 days to check on tibetan budhism:

http://www.tsondruegyatso.blogspot.com/...
http://www.tibetan-rituals.blogspot.com/...
http://www.buddha-stories.blogspot.com/...
http://www.yellow-dzambala.blogspot.com/...

I am more than happy if you can save my blog on your favourite list, check it more often, I'm still updating the blog everyday

Answer 4

SGI is a happy and effective sect. Highly recommended!

Nam myoho renge kyo
Nam myoho renge kyo
Nam myoho renge kyo
Nam myoho renge kyo
Nam myoho renge kyo
Nam myoho renge kyo
Nam myoho renge kyo
Nam myoho renge kyo
Nam myoho renge kyo
Nam myoho renge kyo
Nam myoho renge kyo