Mahayana Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhism is the largest tradition of Buddhism, and is thus the most diverse and heterodox due to its wide spread of influence across East Asia.

Belief
Buddhists fundamentally believe in the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, often known simply as the Buddha, who was said to reach enlightenment after rejecting his earlier life as a wealthy prince. The Buddha's teachings hold that all existence is a cycle of rebirth and suffering known as Samsara, caused by desire and clinging to the impermanent material world. Buddhists thus seek enlightenment and contentment with the permanent, with Mahayana Buddhists in particular believing this is achievable in a single lifetime with the help of enlightened beings just short of true Buddha-hood known as Bodhisattvas.

Organization
The Mahayana branch is incredibly diverse and decentralized due to its heavy integration with local beliefs and multiple scholarly traditions, such as Pure Land or Nihonese Zen. The core foundation and goal, however, remains the same.