• Early Buddhism was almost scientific, a nonreligious way to achieve a better state through proper breathing and Stoic detachment. It was "monks only".

• Tendai Buddhism, also "monks only", emphasized physical toughness and discipline, and produced Kyoto's warrior monks.

• Zen Buddhism deemphasized the ascetic and emphasized paradox, irrationality, and meditation, in something of a return to early Buddhism but with more appeal to the wordly elite.

• Nichiren Buddhism believes in getting as many people as possible to chant the Lotus Sutra, regardless of their state of mind, and in directing desires in the right direction through generous action, not in eliminating desires and meditation. Thus, it believes in political intervention, and is the group behind a major Japanese political party, the New Komeito.

• Mahayana Buddhism is a broad category, but its essence is the belief in bodhisvattas, saints whose merit is so great that it has an excess that can help other people. Thus, prayer to them can help ordinary people achieve salvation without monastic practices. Thus, it is similar to Roman Catholicism and paganism.

• Pure Land Buddhism, one type of Mahayana Buddhism, has striking similarities to Christianity, being based on faith, not works--- an external savior rather than internal effort. Shinran of the Pure Land sect wrote that: "two things are essential to faith. The first is to be convinced of our own sinfulness; from the bondage of evil deeds we possess no means of emancipating ourselves. The second is, therefore, to throw our helpless souls wholly upon the divine power of Amida."

[ http://php.indiana.edu/~erasmuse/w/03.06.20a.htm ]

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