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Nikāya Buddhism is a general term for those schools of Buddhism that accept only the class of sūtras collected in the Nikayas as authentic. Historically, there were many Nikāya schools. Buddhism is a religion and philosophy focusing on the teachings of the Buddha Śākyamuni (Siddhārtha Gautama). ... Sutra (सूत्र) in Sanskrit is derived from the verb siv-, meaning to sew (these words, including English to sew and Latinate suture, all derive from PIE *syÅ«-). It literally means a rope or thread, and more metaphorically refers to an aphorism (or line, rule, formula), or a collection of such aphorisms...

Nikāya Buddhism is distinguished from the Buddhism of the various Hinayana, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna schools, which accept the authenticity of a range of other scriptures. However, many of the sutras corresponding to those of the Nikayas are accepted by every school, and outside Nikaya Buddhism they are known as the āgamas or Nikāyas. Theravada (Pali; Sanskrit: Sthaviravada) is one of the eighteen (or twenty) Nikāya schools that formed early in the history of Buddhism. ... Relief image of the bodhisattva Kuan Yin from Mt. ... A mandala used in Vajrayana Buddhist practices. ... Agama (Sanskrit, IAST Ä€gama) literally means that which has come down, i. ... Nikaya is a word of Pali origin and Sanskrit usage which was adopted into English in reference to Buddhist texts. ...

Presecular, or Nikayan Buddhism – This term properly refers only to the Nikayas, such that the Nikayas predate the existence of Theravada ("Hīnayāna"; or originally called Sarvastivada [materialists]) by over 550 years. Presecular Buddhism is found in the teachings of traditionalists and learned Buddhist scholars such as Dr. C.A.F. Rhys Davids, I.B. Horner, Rene' Guenon, Julius Evola, George Grimm, Dr. A.K. Coomaraswamy and others who were adverse to revisionist schools of Buddhism which doctrinally diverged from the earliest existing texts of Buddhism. The main doctrinal position of Presecular Buddhism is that the Soul or Atman was taught by Gotama the Buddhas as is evidenced by countless teachings themselves and is utterly unlike most modern sects of Buddhism which are based in secular conjecture and in a revisionist commentarial agenda to subvert the original teachings.

Also it is of great note that from the standpoint of doctrinal evolution, that the stage of thought as reflected in sectarian controversies is much later that the formation and recording of the Nikayas. [Studies in the Origins of Buddhism. Govind Pande Chandre; page 13].

Only the Nikayas thusly, reflect the first and earliest period of the history of Buddhist thought when the Sangha was in doctrine at one. [Studies in the Origins of Buddhism. Govind Pande Chandre; page 13].

The vast majority of the Nikayas appear to have existed in record no later then 460 B.C. [Studies in the Origins of Buddhism. Govind Pande Chandre; page 14].

An examination of the Sanchi inscriptions [one of Buddha’s stupas], show that some time before the early 4rd century B.C. there was already a well established collection of Buddhist sermons of the Nikayas . [Studies in the Origins of Buddhism. Govind Pande Chandre; page 14].

Since only the Nikayas make no note of the massive schisms within the Buddhist Sangha, this is further evidence that it is only the Nikayas themselves that predate all sectarian divisions within the Buddhist Sangha. [Studies in the Origins of Buddhism. Govind Pande Chandre; page 16].

Many commentors on Buddhism have used the term Hīnayāna to refer to Nikāya Buddhism. However, that term is now generally seen as flawed: Hinayana (Sanskrit: inferior vehicle; Chinese:小乘, Xiǎoshèng; Japanese: Shōjō) is a term coined by the Mahayana, which appeared publicly around the 1st century CE. There are differing views on the use and meaning of the term, both among scholars and within Buddhism. ...

• Hīnayāna, or Theravada refers only to the Abhidhamma and their Vinaya. The Nikayas themselves predate Hīnayāna by nearly 700 years.
• Hīnayāna, (literally "inferior vehicle"), is often regarded as an offensive or pejorative term.
• Hīnayāna was coined by the Mahāyāna, and has never been used by Nikāya Buddhists to refer to themselves.
• Hīnayāna as a technical term, indicated the vehicles of both the Śrāvakabuddha and the Pratyekabuddha, whereas as a division of Buddhism, it refers solely to the individuals who follow the former vehicle, towards the achievement of Śrāvakabuddhahood.
• It is sensible to use a terms for a division of population which is ideally used by themselves, and failing that, at least not offensive to them.

"Nikāya Buddhism", which appears to have been coined by Professor Masatoshi Nagatomi of Harvard University, is an attempt to find the most neutral and accurate way of referring to this division of Buddhists. The term Śrāvakayāna (literally, "hearer vehicle" or "disciples' vehicle") is also sometimes used for the same purpose. Note that Nikāya is also a term used by Theravādins to refer to a school or sect. Statues of the 500 arhats in the Longhua temple in Shanghai, P.R. China Åšrāvakabuddhas (Sanskrit) or Sāvakabuddhas (Pāli) are those enlightened individuals who gain Nirvāṇa, but do so by hearing the Dharma as initially taught by a Samyaksambuddha. ... A Pratyeka Buddha (Sanskrit pratyekabuddha; Pali pacceka-buddha) is one of three types of enlightened beings according to some schools of Buddhism (the others being the śrāvakas and Samyaksam-Buddhas). ... Harvard University campus (old map) Harvard University (incorporated as The President and Fellows of Harvard College) is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ... Śravakayāna is a term used by some Mahayana Buddhists to describe one hypothetical path to enlightenment: the vehicle of hearers [i. ...

There were once at least eighteen Nikāya schools. According to tradition, the divisions within Nikāya Buddhism originated at the second Buddhist council, held about one hundred years after the Buddha's death. The subject of this council involved adherence to monastic rules (Vinaya). Tradition states that the protagonists were two Nikāya Buddhist groups: a conservative group known as the Sthaviras which insisted on strict observation of Vinaya and a more liberal group known as Mahāsāṅghikas which either argued that some minor rules could be relaxed or resisted the addition of new rules. The council ended with the rejection of the Mahāsāṅghikas. A series of further disputes resulted in additional divisions. The now-defunct Nikāya schools are described under early Buddhist schools and branches of Buddhism. // 1st Buddhist council (5th century BC) The first Buddhist council was held soon after the death of the Buddha under the patronage of king Ajatasatru, and presided by a monk named Mahakasyapa, at Rajagaha (todays Rajgir). ... Standing Buddha, ancient region of Gandhara, northern Pakistan, 1st century CE, Musée Guimet. ... The Vinaya (a word in Pali as well as in Sanskrit, with literal meaning discipline) is the textual framework for the Buddhist monastic community, or sangha. ... Sthaviravāda (Sanskrit. ... The Mahāsaṃghika (Majority) sect of Buddhism was formed in the first Buddhist schism around 320 BCE. It split from the Sthaviravāda (Elders) school. ... Divisions among the early Buddhist schools came about due to doctrinal or practical differences in the views of the Buddhist Sangha following the death of the Buddha. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...