Eighteen Schools of Early Buddhism

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Eighteen Schools of Early Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition, in the early centuries after the Buddha's death the original unity of his followers quickly gave way to disagreement and schism, resulting in the formation of eighteen different schools. Eleven of these schools identified themselves with the conservative tradition of the ‘Elders’ (Sthaviras), while the remaining seven constituted the innovative movement of the ‘Great Assembly’ (Mahāsāmghikas). Chief among these schools were the Theravāda, Sarvāstivāda, Sautrāntika, and Vātsīputrīya. Of the eleven schools of the Elder tradition only the Theravāda has survived, while the seven schools of the Great Assembly coalesced in the emergence of the Mahāyāna.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions

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