Characteristics of Mahayana Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhists accept one or more of the Mahayana scriptures as the word of the Buddha. The goal for Mahayana Buddhists is to become a bodhisattva (and eventually a Buddha) in order to save others as well as oneself. It is therefore possible that help can be gained from beings further advanced on this path. Some well-known bodhisattvas are Avalokiteshvara, Manjusri, Maitreya, Tara and Kshitigarbha.

The Mahayana universe - or multiverse - is even larger than the cosmology of the Theravada Buddhists

• There are other world systems, in which may dwell other buddhas than the Shakyamuni Buddha of this world system
• This relates to the doctrine of the trikayas:  nirmanakaya (physical form), sambhogakaya (spiritual form) and dharmakaya (ultimate…