Home›Sources›Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal FoundationsSourcesMahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal FoundationsCitation FormatsGeneral ReferenceGeneral Reference Citation TextDivinity Atlas. "Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://dev-divinity.interactiveatlas.org/sources/mahayana-buddhism-the-doctrinal-foundations.Copy General ReferenceAPA StyleAPA Style Citation TextDivinity Atlas. (n.d.). Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://dev-divinity.interactiveatlas.org/sources/mahayana-buddhism-the-doctrinal-foundationsCopy APA StyleBibTeXBibTeX Citation Text@misc{divinityatlas-mahayana-buddhism-the-doctrinal-foundati, author = {Divinity Atlas}, title = {Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations}, year = {2026}, url = {https://dev-divinity.interactiveatlas.org/sources/mahayana-buddhism-the-doctrinal-foundations}, note = {Accessed August 30, 2026} }Copy BibTeXPaul Williams's study traces the doctrinal development of Mahayana Buddhism directly from its foundational texts, including the specific reading that the Mahayana Buddha functions as a spiritual king relating to and caring for the world, a checkable interpretive claim about specific textual material rather than a general summary. This atlas has not verified the book's publisher against the physical edition used, stated honestly rather than guessed at; the book has also gone through a second edition, revised after its 1989 original. This record has not independently traced further scholarly disagreement with Williams's specific reading. Use it for Mahayana doctrinal development, particularly this reading of the Buddha's role.FactsClaims Backed By This Source (214 claims)Comments (0)Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)FactsAssessmentReliability TierWell-attested1Paul Williams's study tracing Mahayana Buddhism's doctrinal development directly from its foundational texts, including the reading that the Mahayana Buddha functions as a spiritual king; this record states honestly that the publisher was not verified against the physical edition used.NotesWell-attestedPublisher left NULL: not verified. First published 1989, with a second edition. Williams describes the Mahayana Buddha as a spiritual king, relating to and caring for the world.CitationAuthorWell-attestedPaul WilliamsPublisherWell-attestedRoutledgePublication YearWell-attested1989Source TypeWell-attestedacademic monographClaims Backed By This Source (214 claims)This source backs 214 claims across the atlas. As facts: 121 well-attested, 7 scholarly debate. As cited relationships: 30 holds, 1 critiqued Here, 1 held Differently. Plus 54 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.Disposition By TopicDoctrines, 55 claims: 28 well-attested, 2 scholarly debate, 10 holds, 1 held Differently, 14 general references.Scriptures & Texts, 30 claims: 18 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 6 holds, 5 general references.Beliefs & Restrictions, 29 claims: 22 well-attested, 7 general references.Articles, 23 claims: 22 well-attested, 1 general references.Denominations, 23 claims: 3 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 10 holds, 1 critiqued Here, 8 general references.Deities, 17 claims: 9 well-attested, 1 holds, 7 general references.Virtues, 13 claims: 6 well-attested, 3 scholarly debate, 4 general references.Figures, 9 claims: 5 well-attested, 4 general references.Sources, 7 claims: 7 well-attested.Prayers, 4 claims: 1 well-attested, 2 holds, 1 general references.Other Writings, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.Mantras, 1 claims: 1 general references.Religious Roles & Titles, 1 claims: 1 general references.Well-attested121ArticlesA Polemic and Its RejectionA Sutra Assembled From SutrasA Vow With No End PointBuddha-Nature, and the Argument Over Who Can Reach ItCritical Buddhism's Attack on Buddha-NatureDana and the Three Kinds of GivingDhyana as the Ground Prajna RequiresEmpty of Inherent Existence, Not Empty of EverythingEmpty of Self, or Empty of Other?Formats Across the Mahayana WorldIndra's Net and the Buddha Who Never SpeaksIs Buddha-Nature a Self by Another Name?Prajna, the Sixth PerfectionSila and the Bodhisattva PreceptsThe Bodhisattva Ideal, and a Disagreement with the EldersThe Burning House and What Every Child Received in the EndThe Burning House, the Hidden Jewel, and the One VehicleThe Three BodiesWhy Kumarajiva's Chinese, and Not the Sanskrit, Is the Operative TextZhiyi's System, Nichiren's Title, and a Modern Lay MovementBeliefs & RestrictionsAll phenomena lack intrinsic nature (svabhava)Buddha-nature in all beingsThe arhat idealThe bodhisattva idealThe inseparability of samsara and nirvanaThe middle way avoids both eternalism and annihilationismThe two truths, conventional and ultimateDeitiesMaitreyaManjushriVairochanaDenominationsJodo ShinshuMahayanaPure LandDoctrinesBodhicittaBuddhahoodBuddha-natureDanaDependent originationEkayana (The One Vehicle)Sokushin Jobutsu (Buddhahood in This Very Body)SunyataThe Arhat IdealThe Ten PerfectionsFiguresHonenSaichoShinranPrayersFour Bodhisattva VowsScriptures & TextsAvatamsaka SutraDiamond SutraLankavatara SutraShowing 1 to 50 of 56 entities carrying this claim. NextScholarly debate7DenominationsMadhyamakaDoctrinesBuddhahoodEkayana (The One Vehicle)Scriptures & TextsAvatamsaka SutraVirtuesDana (Generosity)Dhyana (Meditative Concentration)Sila (Ethical Conduct)Holds30DeitiesNagarjunaDenominationsMadhyamakaMahayanaDoctrinesAnattaBodhicittaBuddhahoodBuddha-natureEkayana (The One Vehicle)Mappo (The Latter Age of the Dharma)The Ten PerfectionsThe Three Jewels and Going for RefugeOther WritingsBodhicaryavataraPrayersFour Bodhisattva VowsScriptures & TextsAvatamsaka SutraLankavatara SutraLotus SutraCritiqued Here1DenominationsMahayanaHeld Differently1DoctrinesBuddha-natureGeneral References54ArticlesThe Burning House and What Every Child Received in the EndBeliefs & RestrictionsAll phenomena lack intrinsic nature (svabhava)Buddha-nature in all beingsThe arhat idealThe bodhisattva idealThe inseparability of samsara and nirvanaThe middle way avoids both eternalism and annihilationismThe two truths, conventional and ultimateDeitiesAkshobhyaMaitreyaManjushriNagarjunaSamantabhadraShakyamuni BuddhaVairochanaDenominationsJodo ShinshuMadhyamakaMahayanaPure LandShingonVajrayanaDoctrinesAnattaBodhicittaBuddhahoodBuddha-natureDanaDependent originationEkayana (The One Vehicle)Mappo (The Latter Age of the Dharma)Sokushin Jobutsu (Buddhahood in This Very Body)SunyataThe Arhat IdealThe Ten PerfectionsThe Three Jewels and Going for RefugeThe Two TruthsFiguresHonenKukaiSaichoShinranMantrasGate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi SvahaOther WritingsBodhicaryavataraPrayersFour Bodhisattva VowsReligious Roles & TitlesArhatScriptures & TextsAvatamsaka SutraDiamond SutraLankavatara SutraLotus SutraPerfection of Wisdom SutrasVirtuesDana (Generosity)Dhyana (Meditative Concentration)Showing 1 to 50 of 52 entities carrying this claim. 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