Basic points unifying Theravāda and Mahāyāna

# Whatever our

sects, denominations or systems, as Buddhists we all accept the Buddha as our Master

who gave us the Teaching.

1. We all take refuge in the Triple Jewel: the Buddha, our Teacher; the Dhamma, his teaching; and the Sangha, the Community of holy ones. In other words, we take refuge in the Teacher, the Teaching and the Taught.
2. Whether Theravāda or Mahāyāna, we do not believe that this world is created and ruled by a god at his will.
3. Following the example of the Buddha, our Teacher, who is embodiment of Great Compassion (mahā
   prajñā
   ), we consider that the purpose of life is to develop compassion for all living beings without discrimination and to work for their good, happiness and peace; and to develop wisdom leading to the realization of Ultimate Truth.
4. We accept the Four Noble Truths taught by the Buddha, namely, Dukkha, the fact that our existence in this world is in predicament, is impermanent, imperfect, unsatisfactory, full of conflict;
   interdependent and interrelated and nothing is absolute
   , permanent and everlasting in this universe.
5. We understand, according to the teaching of the Buddha, that all conditioned things (
   anatta
   ).
6. We accept the Thirty-seven Qualities conducive to Enlightenment (
   bodhipakkhiyadhamma
   ) as different aspects of the Path taught by the Buddha leading to Enlightenment, namely:
   • Four Forms of Presence of Mindfulness (Pali: satipatthana; Skt. smrtyupasthana);
   • Four Right Efforts (Pali.
     samyakpradhana
     );
   • Four Bases of Supernatural Powers (Pali.
     rddhipada
     );
   • Five Faculties (
     prajna
     );
   • Five Powers (
     bala
     , same five qualities as above);
   • Seven Factors of Enlightenment (Pali.
     bodhyanga
     );
   • aryamarga
     ).
7. There are three ways of attaining
   marga) and only one Purification (visuddhi) and no second one, and that they are not different paths and different purifications, and that Śrāvakayāna and Mahayana constitute One Vehicle One Yana (ekayāna) and not distinct and different vehicles or yanas
   .
8. We admit that in different countries there are differences with regard to the ways of life of Buddhist monks, popular Buddhist beliefs and practices, rites and
   rituals, ceremonies
   , customs and habits. These external forms and expressions should not be confused with the essential teachings of the Buddha.