Characteristics of Mahayana Buddhism:
1. The highest ideal is to become a bodhisattva - one who seeks to become a Buddha. According to Mahayana Buddhism, everybody can become a bodhisattva.
4. This form reinterprets the buddha’s traditional teachings in new ways (for instance, by placing less importance on nirvana and more on wisdom, and by stating that merit can lead to the acquisition of wisdom and eventually to awakening).
Characteristics of Early Buddhism:
2. This form highlights the importance of living life according to the Middle path - or the Middle Way, a way of life that avoids extremes.
3. The highest ideal is to attain nirvana - the ultimate goal of the Buddhist path (the termination of suffering).
