Why do Mahayana Buddhists believe in an eternal Buddha nature?
And the concept that Nibbana is a place when the Buddha lives for eternity? This seems to be the opposite of the Buddha's original teachings on the nature of phenomena: suffering, impermanence, no-self, emptiness, you name it. The final straw is that Nibbana means "to extinguish", if a flame is blown out it "nibbanas" - vanishes without a trace. It seems like they think Buddha is in a place called "no-place" when really there is just no place!
What is the Mahayana Buddhist's take on the Pali Canons that Theravada Buddhists study and prescribe to?
There isn't one Mahayana Buddhist take. But, most people I've talked to consider the texts as a valid transmission of the Buddha's teachings.There are many parallels of the Nikāyas in Tibetan and Chinese. In particular, the Āgamas in the Chinese Canon are very similar to Nikayas - see SuttaCentral, Correspondence of early Buddhist discourses. One of the lead translators of the Agamas from Classical Chinese is Bhikkhu Analayo - a Theravada monk and student of Pali translator Bhikkhu Bodhi.So even if Pali was translated to Classical Chinese and added to the official canon, there would be massive overlap. Nor would it be unprecedented, as the Chinese Canon already has multiple translations from different schools.For more on early texts, see What the Buddha Really Taught. archive link: whatthebuddhareallytaught - santipadaWhat one can say is that many Mahayana traditions have a lack of emphasis or even overlook the Agamas, Abhidharma, etc. However, the texts are still relevant. After all, Nagarjuna based his work on a version of the Kaccanagotta sutta, probably in response to the Abhidharma.Finally, lets take a step back and consider what role the texts have in people's practices. For many Mahayana Buddhists (like many Theravada Buddhists), the suttas don't play much of a role besides something to be chanted. The primary activity is merit making, as the Tripitaka sits locked away in glass bookshelf collecting dust....
What is the difference between Mahayana and Hinayana Buddhism?
Buddhism is divided into two sects after the death of Buddha. Mahayana and Hinayana. originated in the Prajnaparamita Sutras.Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism both started of with one goal, Nirvana. But both follow different ways to achieve.Hinayana BuddhismFollowed as a teaching or Philosophy not as a religion. No idiol worship.Followed mostly Ceylon (Sri-Lanka).Early work written in Pali language.Buddha is followed like a human because they think The Buddha was simply a man who found a way to Nirvana. As per their believe Siddhartha Gautama(actual name of Buddha) didn’t know how to meditate in his early life and he learn that and master himself in it and so couldn’t have been a God.Mahayana Buddhism1-Followed with reference to higher beings, more like a religion. Idol worship.2-Followed mostly in the North and West, covering China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet, india, thailand.3-Early texts were in Sanskrit like Karma, Dharma.4. Buddha is worship like a God because they think that the Buddha came down to earth to help people cross the sea of life. So the Buddha can be worshipped as a God because he is eternal and a leader.Similarities——A. Accept Sakyamuni Buddha as the Teacher.B. The Four Noble Truths are exactly the same in both schools.C. The Eightfold Path is exactly the same in both schools.—-If you think there is more information available on this, please let me know. Suggestions are welcomeRegards