The earliest mention of "Mahayana" occurs in the Lotus Sutra between the 1st century B.C. to the 1st century A.D. However it was only in the 5th century Mahayana did become an influential school in India. Mahayana is a vast religious and philosophical structure .It constitutes an inclusive faith characterized by the adoption of new Mahayana Sutras. In Mahayana, the Buddha is seen as an eternal, immutable, inconceivable and omnipresent. Zen Buddhism, which is a school of Mahayana, often de emphasizes the Boddhisattvas and instead focuses on the meditative aspects of the religion.

Mahayana Buddhism can in general be characterized by Universalism, in that everyone will become a buddha. Bodhicitta as the main focus of realization, the vow to strive for buddhahood or awakened mind both for oneself and for the benefit of all other beings . Compassion through the transferral of merit . It is a necessity to Bodhicitta .Although compassion is important in all schools of Buddhism it is particularly emphasized in Mahayana .The idea that acquired merit can be transmitted to others is another important aspect of compassion.Salvation , as opposed to liberation. Transcendental immanence, in that the immortal Buddha Principle .

Philosophical Mahayana focuses on the first three characteristics (universalism, enlightened wisdom, compassion)