Over its long {rf1726|history}, Buddhism has taken a wide variety of forms. The Mahayana tradition tends to emphasize rituals and the worship of deities, while Theravada Buddhism rejects rituals and gods in favor of pure meditation. Yet all forms of Buddhism share respect for the teachings of the {rf1299|Buddha} and the goal of ending suffering and the {rf1310|cycle of rebirth}.
The following comparison chart provides an introduction to the similarities and differences between Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism.