Monk meditating representing Mahayana Buddhism — thangka art and Himalayan monastery setting

What Is Mahayana Buddhism? Core Beliefs, Schools & Connection to Tibetan Sacred Objects

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Mahayana Buddhism is the tradition of the bodhisattva: the person who seeks awakening not only for themselves but so that every living being may be free from suffering. It is the Buddhism of China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam, and it is the ground on which Tibetan Buddhism grew. If you have ever recited Om Mani Padme Hum, admired a thangka of Tara or wondered why a Tibetan dzi bead is said to carry blessings, you have already met Mahayana ideas.

This guide explains what Mahayana means, where it came from, what its followers believe, how its major schools differ, and how sacred objects such as dzi beads fit into its living practice.

What Does "Mahayana" Mean?

Mahayana is a Sanskrit word meaning "Great Vehicle". The vehicle is the path that carries a person across the ocean of suffering to awakening. Mahayana teachers called their path "great" because it is wide enough to carry everyone: its aim is the liberation of all beings, not of the practitioner alone.

Today Mahayana is the largest branch of Buddhism in the world. Together with Theravada, the older "Teaching of the Elders" found across Sri Lanka and South-East Asia, it is one of the two great streams of Buddhist tradition. Vajrayana, the "Diamond Vehicle" of Tibet, Bhutan and Mongolia, developed within Mahayana and shares its foundations.

Where Did Mahayana Buddhism Come From?

Mahayana took shape in India roughly between the first century BCE and the first century CE, several centuries after the Buddha's lifetime. It did not begin as a breakaway church. Monks and lay followers within the existing monastic communities began to study and recite a new body of scriptures, the Mahayana sutras, which placed the bodhisattva at the centre of the path.

Among the most influential of these texts are the Perfection of Wisdom (Prajnaparamita) sutras, including the short and much-loved Heart Sutra; the Lotus Sutra, which teaches that all beings can become buddhas; and the Pure Land sutras, which describe the realm of the Buddha Amitabha. Great Indian thinkers such as Nagarjuna, who founded the Madhyamaka or "Middle Way" school, and the brothers Asanga and Vasubandhu, who shaped the Yogacara school, gave Mahayana its philosophical depth.

From India, Mahayana travelled along the Silk Roads into Central Asia and China, and from China to Korea, Japan and Vietnam. From the seventh century onward it was carried over the Himalaya into Tibet, where it became the foundation of Tibetan Buddhism.

Core Beliefs of Mahayana Buddhism

Mahayana keeps the Buddha's foundational teachings: the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, impermanence, and the law of karma and rebirth. On that shared foundation it emphasises several ideas of its own.

The bodhisattva ideal

A bodhisattva is someone who has resolved to attain full awakening in order to help all beings reach it too. This resolve is called bodhicitta, the "mind of awakening". In Mahayana, the bodhisattva path is open to everyone: monk or nun, householder, scholar or farmer.

The six perfections

The bodhisattva trains in six perfections (paramitas): generosity, ethical conduct, patience, joyful effort, meditation and wisdom. Each one supports the others, and together they describe a life of practical kindness grounded in clear understanding.

Compassion and wisdom together

Mahayana teachers often compare compassion and wisdom to the two wings of a bird. Compassion (karuna) without wisdom can become sentimental or exhausting; wisdom without compassion can become cold. Awakening needs both.

Emptiness

Wisdom in Mahayana means understanding emptiness (shunyata). This does not mean that nothing exists. It means that nothing exists independently: every thing and every person arises through causes and conditions and is connected to everything else. Seeing this clearly loosens the grip of craving and fear, and naturally deepens compassion.

Buddha-nature

Many Mahayana traditions teach that every being has buddha-nature, the potential for awakening. Practice is less about becoming something new and more about uncovering what is already present, like clearing clouds from the sun.

Buddhas and bodhisattvas as guides

Mahayana honours many buddhas and great bodhisattvas, who are understood both as beings who help practitioners and as expressions of qualities to cultivate within oneself. Among the best known are Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion (Chenrezig in Tibet, Guanyin in China); Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom; Maitreya, the future Buddha of loving-kindness; and Tara, the swift, compassionate mother of Tibetan devotion.

The Major Schools of Mahayana Buddhism

Mahayana is a family of traditions rather than a single school. The best known include:

  • Pure Land: devotion to the Buddha Amitabha and the recitation of his name, with the aspiration to be reborn in his Pure Land, where awakening is easy. It is one of the most widely practised forms of Buddhism in East Asia.
  • Chan and Zen: Chan developed in China and became Zen in Japan, Seon in Korea and Thien in Vietnam. It emphasises seated meditation and direct insight into one's own nature.
  • Tiantai and Tendai, Huayan and Kegon: scholarly Chinese schools built around the Lotus Sutra and the Avatamsaka (Flower Garland) Sutra, later transmitted to Japan.
  • Nichiren: a Japanese tradition centred on the Lotus Sutra and the chanting of its title.
  • Tibetan Buddhism: Mahayana teachings combined with the tantric methods of Vajrayana. Its four main schools are Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug, the school of the Dalai Lama.

Mahayana and Theravada: The Key Differences

Aspect Mahayana Theravada
Ideal The bodhisattva, who seeks awakening for the sake of all beings The arhat, who attains liberation through their own practice
Scriptures Mahayana sutras (in Chinese and Tibetan collections) as well as early teachings The Pali Canon
Where it is practised China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, and (as Vajrayana) Tibet, Bhutan and Mongolia Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos
Buddhas and bodhisattvas Many celestial buddhas and bodhisattvas are honoured Focus on the historical Buddha

The two traditions share far more than divides them. Both follow the Buddha's teachings on suffering and its end, both value ethics, meditation and wisdom, and both honour the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.

Mahayana Practice in Daily Life

Mahayana practice takes many forms: meditation, chanting mantras and sutras, prostrations, making offerings, studying the teachings, and dedicating the merit of every good action to the welfare of all beings. Simple daily habits matter as much as formal practice. A kind word, patience with a difficult person or a small act of generosity can all be offered as bodhisattva practice.

Sacred objects support this practice. Malas keep count of mantras, images and thangkas remind practitioners of the qualities they are cultivating, and many people carry a blessed object as a daily reminder of their intention.

Dzi Beads in the Mahayana World

Antique Lotus Bud motif dzi bead, cream motif on very dark brown agate, bloodspots, At-072226-LBBS, unretouched

Dzi beads are etched agate beads treasured across the Himalaya. In Tibet, where Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism shaped every part of life, they came to be treasured as protective objects and are often worn with malas or kept on household shrines. They are also deeply valued among Mahayana communities in Taiwan, Hong Kong and across the Chinese-speaking world.

Many dzi motifs echo Mahayana symbols. The lotus, which rises clean from muddy water, stands for the pure mind and for the awakening that is possible in the midst of ordinary life. The Three Eye dzi is often linked with the Three Jewels. The Nine Eye dzi is considered the king of all dzi and regarded as the most powerful of all. Tara dzi carry the name of the compassionate goddess so loved in Tibetan devotion; you can read more in our guide to which dzi connects to which Tara.

These associations are traditional emphases, not rules. All dzi protect and bless their owners. None was ever made to bring bad fortune, and you cannot choose the wrong one.

Ancient, Antique, Vintage and New Dzi

We describe every bead by its age category:

  • Ancient: more than 500 years old.
  • Antique: between 100 and 500 years old.
  • Vintage: under 100 years old, but not new. These beads were made using the traditional dzi crafting technique.
  • New: made within roughly the last 20 years, using the traditional dzi crafting technique.

Telling a dzi's age takes experience, and there is no substitute for it. No single feature proves age. White hair and wrinkles are signs of age, but not everyone with white hair is old, not every old person has white hair, and some people take very good care of themselves. Beads are the same, which is why we always give ages as ranges.

A Note on Bloodspots

Bloodspots are natural cinnabar inclusions in the agate. They cannot be added, new beads can have them too, and they are never proof of age. Many collectors simply love the warm red flecks they bring to a bead.

How to Choose a Dzi Bead

Begin with what draws you. Some people are moved by a motif's traditional meaning, such as the lotus for purity or the Three Eye for the Three Jewels. Others think first of age, colour, size or how the bead will sit on a mala or bracelet. Our dzi buying guide walks through each of these in more detail.

In the end, the most important thing is simple: choose the dzi that pleases your eye. A bead you love to look at and wear will be the right companion for you.

Caring for Your Dzi

When your dzi arrives, wash it once in mild soap and water and let it dry in the sun. After that, no soap is needed unless it becomes dirty. Many owners introduce themselves to the bead aloud, pass it over temple incense and breathe in positive energy as they wear it for the first time. If any of this is impractical, do not worry: the Buddha will not punish you. More tips are in our guide on how to wear and care for a dzi bead.

If a dzi ever breaks, it is said to have taken on harm meant for its owner. It is not bad luck. Do not wear it again; return it respectfully to running water.

Dzi Beads to Explore

Browse our ancient dzi, antique dzi, Taiwan dzi and new dzi collections for more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main belief of Mahayana Buddhism?

The heart of Mahayana is the bodhisattva ideal: seeking awakening out of compassion so that all beings can be freed from suffering, guided by the wisdom of emptiness.

Is Tibetan Buddhism Mahayana?

Yes. Tibetan Buddhism rests on Mahayana teachings such as the bodhisattva vow and emptiness, and adds the tantric methods of Vajrayana.

Is Zen Buddhism Mahayana?

Yes. Zen grew out of Chinese Chan Buddhism, a Mahayana school that emphasises meditation and direct insight.

What is the difference between Mahayana and Theravada?

Theravada holds up the arhat, who attains liberation through their own practice, and relies on the Pali Canon. Mahayana holds up the bodhisattva, who seeks awakening for all beings, and adds the Mahayana sutras. Both share the Buddha's core teachings.

Which bodhisattvas are most important in Mahayana?

Avalokiteshvara (compassion), Manjushri (wisdom), Maitreya (the future Buddha) and, especially in Tibet, Tara are among the most widely honoured.

Do Mahayana Buddhists wear dzi beads?

Many do, particularly in Tibet, Bhutan, Taiwan and the wider Chinese-speaking world. Dzi are treasured as protective objects and are often worn with malas. All dzi protect and bless; the best one to choose is the one that pleases your eye.

Further Reading

May your path be a great vehicle, wide enough to carry everyone you love.

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