Mahāyāna Buddhism: Reasons for Diversity in the Buddha’s Teachings (4)

Abstract

     The Prajñāpāramitā Sūtras have changed a concept of enlightenment from “adapting a monastic lifestyle and practicing meditation extremely” to “accumulating good karma in daily life,” which has been different from Buddhist teachings in the period of Śākyamuni Buddha. In other words, people who do not go into monkhood and practice meditation thoroughly can be on the path towards Buddhahood. As a consequence, the Prajñāpāramitā Sūtras have had to modify a concept of śūnyatā (emptiness). Only people who study this concept can transfer good karma in daily life to be beneficially reaching enlightenment and becoming Buddhas. The Prajñāpāramitā Sūtras, in addition, have been well known as mantras that have supernatural power and ward off suffers and free from all evil.