Buddhism is a major world religion which was founded in northeastern India and is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama
- more commonly known as the Buddha or the Enlightened One. The worldwide followers of Buddhism number between 150 to 300 million, most of who belong to the two major branches of Buddhism--the Theravada (the "Way of the Elders") and Mahayana (the "Great Vehicle") Buddhism. This paper briefly traces the origins of the two branches of Buddhism, compares and contrasts the major theological
differences between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism and explains how these differences are manifested in
practice. Paper Outline Abstract Theravada Buddhism: Origins and Basic Doctrine Mahayana Buddhism: Origins and Basic Doctrine The Main Differences: Theory and Practice Conclusion Works Cited