Mahayana Buddhism - An Introduction
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The Vijnanavada (Yoga Cara) school of Mahayana
Buddhism, founded by Asanga and Vasubandhu around the fourth
century A.D., contended that individuals have no direct perception of
the external world. Therefore, the whole world is only a mental representation
or "ideation."
The T'ien-t'ai school of Mahayana Buddhism purports that the absolute
is one and undifferentiated, but is diverse and particular in its function.
Therefore, the work of the layman is one with that of the Buddha, and
strides should be made to realize that single being-ness.
Similarly, the Hua-Yen (Kegon in Japan) school follows that we are all sons of the Buddha and possess the Buddha-nature within us.
The Ch'an (or Zen) school emphasizes a simple and
direct method of meditation in order to realize the Buddha nature within.
In Tibet, Mahayana Buddhism first completely replaced the Theravada
tradition, and then merged with the indigenous religion of Bon to become
the esoteric branch of Buddhism called the Vajrayana.
Elements of the Mahayana tradition began developing one hundred years after Buddha's physical incarnation, as arguments occurred within the Sangha relevant to the interpretation and implementation of Buddha's words. The first group to split from the Theras was the Mahasanghikas, who were the forerunners of the Mahayana school. Five hundred years after Buddha's time, around the year A.D. 1, several major points of dissension had developed as the laity began to reject the "orthodox" and monastic forms of practice in favor of taking a more active role in the religion. Mahayanan adherents claimed that they were only revealing doctrines which had previously been considered too sacred to be shared with the laity.
Recommended Reading:
 The
Sutra on the Eight Realizations of the Great Beings, by Thich Nhat
Hanh, tr. by Diem T. Truong and Carole Melkonian
 Treasury
of Mahayana Sutras: Selections from the Maharatnakuta Sutra, edited
by Garma C. C. and translated by Buddhist
Association of the United States
 The Bodhisattva Vow; The Essential Practices of Mahayana Buddhism, by Gelshe Kelsang Gyatso
Other Resources:
BuddhaNet
Soka Gakkai International-USA
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