In Hinayana, the main aim of the strenuous religious disci-
plines is to develop oneself into a spiritual being of the highest
level, that of an A, a ‘worthy one’ or a ‘perfected being’,
who is able to bring to an end, the repeated rounds of rebirths
in the suffering worlds known as Samsara. Within Samsara
are six different kinds of existences: that of the Devas (gods),
Asuras (demi-gods), Humans, Animals, Pretas (ghosts) and
Hell-beings. Each being in these worlds or realms are subject
to the pains of birth, disease, old age and death which will be
discussed in details later on.Mahayana Buddhism is Devotional Buddhism which requires
its adherents to put full faith in the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
who possess the infinite power to save all beings. It is the path
of compassion and it rejects the idea of pursuit of Nirvana as a
lone quest which is considered self-centred and selfish. It also
teaches the concept of the Bodhisattva who is fully concerned
in the salvation of all living beings. Bodhisattvahood, there-
fore, is the goal of the Mahayana which requires a resolve to
win full enlightenment for the benefit of all that lives, and
thereafter, until Buddhahood, passes countless lifetimes in the
practice of the Six Perfections (Paramitas) of Giving, Moral-
ity, Patience, Perseverance, Meditation and Wisdom. rough
the practice of Giving, Morality and Patience, vast merits are
gained; through the practice of Meditation and Wisdom, tran-
scendental Knowledge is attained; and in order to be success-
ful in these practices the Perfection of Perseverance must be
accomplished.