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1 Nikaya schools

See also: Theravda; early Buddhist schools

The initial split between Sthaviravāda and Mahāsaṃghika occurred about 100 years after Buddha's death, due to differing views concerning the rigidity of monastic rules.

• Sthaviravda
  • Pudgalavda ('Personalist') (c. 280 BCE)
  • Vibhajyavda (prior to 240 BCE)
    • Theravda (c. 240 BCE, moved to Sri Lanka)
      • Mahissaka (after 232 BCE)
      • Ksyapiya (after 232 BCE)
      • Dharmaguptaka (after 232 BCE)
        • Chinese Vinaya School
          • Japanese Ritsu
    • Vatsiputriya (under A oka)
      • Dharmottariya
      • Bhadrayniya
      • Sanngarika
      • Samitiya
  • Sarvstivda (c. 237 BCE)
    • Sautrntika (between 50 BCE and c. 100 CE)
      • Jojitsu
    • Kusha
    • Mulasarvstivda ( third2nd century 3rd century 4th century other centuries) Events The Sassanid dynasty of Persia launches a war to reconquer lost lands in the Roman east. 230 232 AD). Crisis of the Third Century shakes Roman Empire Emperor Valerian I is taken captive by the Pe and fourth centuries)
• Mahsa ghikaThe Mahsaghika (Majority) sect of Buddhism was formed in the first Buddhist schism around 320 BCE. It split from the Sthaviravda (Elders) school. The Mahsaghikas were primarily situated in Northwestern India but also with an important presence in SE India ('Majority', c. 380 BCE)
  • EkavyahrikasThe Ekavyahraka school of Buddhism split from the Mahsaghikas during the reign of Asoka. The Ekavyahrikas emphasized the transcendence of the Buddha, asserting that he was eternally enlightened and essentially non-physical. The Lokottaravda may be an offs (under A oka)
    • Lokottaravda
  • GolulikaThe Golulaka (Cinder) sect of Buddhism split from the Mahsaghika during the reign of Asoka. The Golulikas believed that all phenomena necessarily involve suffering and that the skandhas are mere cinders. The Bahusritiya and Prajnaptivda split from Golulik (during A oka)
    • }}ritiya (late third century BCE)
    • Praj aptivda (late third century BCE)
  • Caitika (mid- first century BCE)
    • Apara Saila
    • Uttara Saila