Sacredness and its Expressions in Mahayana Buddhism

Although, there initially seems to be no sacredness to Hinayana Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism is rife with beliefs in the sacred and worship of transcendental entities (types of Buddha). Notwithstanding diverse views by scholars of religions, the sacred seems to be conceived of in Mahayana Buddhism as a graded, differently manifested entity, and as a spiritual dimension of all entities. The milestones of the life of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha as well as his teachings were important grounds for the belief of Buddhist followers in the sacredness of certain symbols, notions, and places. The most prominent sacred dimensions of Mahayana include the doctrine of Trikaya, bodhisattvas such as Avalokiteśvara and Maytreya, notions such as “Sunyata” and “suchness” (Tathata), places such as stupas and temples, a variety of sacred iconographies, religious symbols such as mandala, and Buddhist myths and Jatakas. The goal of this descriptive-analytic research is mainly to arrive at more profound understanding of sacredness and its expressions in Mahayana Buddhism.