The Sangha

As with the term "Dharma" the word Sangha can have a number of senses. It can either refer to the monastic community, but at times it is also used to describe the whole community of Buddhists. Elsewhere it can be used to describe all human beings or the community of Bodhisattvas, the community of enlightened beings dedicated to helping all beings to achieve Bodhi. Link to Mahayana

The Triyana - The Three Ways

Over the 2500 years that Buddhism has been in existence, it has gone through many changes. Whereas the essential beliefs of Buddhism remain the same, its outward forms adapted to the different cultures in which it developed. Broadly speaking there were three great developments in the History of Buddhism. These are often called the Triyana, or the "three vehicles", and they are the Hinayana or Little Vehicle, the Mahayana or Great Vehicle, and the Vajrayana or Diamond Vehicle.