Hermeneutics: Science of Understanding (Interpretation) of Theravada and Mahayana in Comparison

Abstract

      Hermeneutics, which is known in other words as science and art of under-standing, could help make the Buddhists come to an agreement and understand one another that there are only two main Orders of Buddhism, i.e. Theravada and Mahayana, even though some Buddhist scholars have been trying to divide
Buddhism into 3 main schools of thought, namely Mahayana, Theravada and Vajrayana as it becomes a word of mouth MTV. However, Vajrayana cannot be taken as a separate Order of Buddhism and it is inclusively recognized as only a branch of Mahayana Buddhism. This is because both Mahayana and Vajrayana follow the same theory of Hermeneutics known as ‘Skills in Means’ (Upayakausalya). In contrast with that, Theravada uses the theory of ‘Gradual Path’ (Anupubbamagga) as its Hermeneutics. More importantly, the method of ‘Skills in Means’ of Mahayana had already appeared in the Theravada’s Tipitaka, but Mahayana developed it to a greater extent that even Theravada will have to accept it by bringing it back to apply it for understanding the commentaries of Dhammapada and Jataka stories.