The Difference Between Sthaviravada and Mahasanghika
Sthaviravada and Mahasanghika are two of the earliest schools of Buddhism. They emerged in the wake of the Buddha’s death, around the 4th century BCE. Both schools share a common core of beliefs, but they also have some important differences. Sthaviravada [Image of Sthaviravada monks performing a ceremony] Sthaviravada, which means “The School of the Elders,” is the oldest and most conservative school of Buddhism. It is based on the teachings of the Buddha as recorded in the Pali Canon....