Thai Buddhism can be considered one tradition of the Theravada
stream.
The term "Human Vehicle" has originated since Buddha's time, it's
been mentioned many times over centuries by different masters, but
only recently has masters like Master Taixu who brought Human
Vehicle into mainstream.
"da cheng jing tu zhong and nan chuan xiao cheng fo jiao" -
doctrinal difference, and difference in path.
While the "Hinayana-ists" practice Self-Liberation method, the
highest attainment is the attainment of "Arhatship", or sainthood.
However, the Mahayana practitioners commit Bodhisattva vows and
practice Great Compassion, liberating both the inner sentient being
and the other sentient beings. Only through the practice of
Bodhisattva can one attain Buddhahood. The Hinayana practitioners
may turn to the path of Mahayana at some point of their
cultivation.
When I speak of "Hinayana" and "Mahayana", I would not discriminate
them by just the traditions and sects. There are people who
attained arhatship within Chinese Mahayana and Vajrayana, and there
are those who wish to practice the Bodhisattva path in Theravadin
too, since the Bodhisattva concept is present in the
Theravadin.
The Mahayana Buddhism focuses more on the metaphysics compared to
the Theravadin, I suppose. The Mahayana Canon and the Pali Canon
(theravadin uses the Pali canon) are also different sets of
scriptures... but basically, all authentic buddhist scriptures
never leave the 3 Dhamma Seals:
1) Impermanence
2) Non-self
3) Nirvana
Most importantly, I think a practitioner should stick to their
path, practice 1 dharma door, and not run around Singapore to look
for different dharma doors but not enter them deeply. This is a
common mistake of many people in the modern age when information
technology and modern transport is predominant.
