Etract from a public email :
I'll give you the simple answer that was given to me...
.....#1) the Hinayana {Small Vehical}-or- Theravada {School of the Elders}
..........is primarily concerned with the Practioner's personal enlightenment.
.....#2) the Mahayana {Great Vehical}
..........is primarily concerned with the complete enlightenment
..........of all living beings.
.....#3) the Vajrayana {Diamond/ Indestructable Vehical}
..........is primarily concerned with the Individual Practioner,
..........dilligently implimenting esoteric methods
..........to gain enlightenment in One breif lifetime,
..........primarilly motivated by the altruistic desire,
..........to liberate all living beings from suffering.
.
Now, that is a VERY simplistic definition.
There are many would-be schoolars in every tradition,
who would be delighted to ignite oceans of Virtuous Merit,
in the vicious debate of doctrinal minutia;
however {as Austinn Powers would say}
"that's Not my bag, BABY!"
.
.
.
I have included an extensive list of Buddhist links.
It is my sincere hope that you will find them helpful
in your effort to answer your worthy questions.
.
Of all the below mentioned sites these are the ones I most recommend:
.
#1
..http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~kadampa/index.html
.
#2
..http://www.he.net/~shugden/ds-hj.htm
.
#3
..http://www.he.net/~shugden
.
#4
..http://primo.bfm.org/zen/tran_index.html
.
#5
..http://www.dhammakaya.org
..These guys have a terrific approach to teaching Meditation!
.
#6
..http://www.dhammakaya.th.org/eng/oversea.html
.
#7
..http://www.aloha.net/~albloom/shinstudy
.
.
.
When viewing the above mentioned sites,
I've found it helpful to remember
what some describe as Buddhism's five-fold path.
.
..#1
.. the Vinaya School's practice of
Precepts, and moral rules;
..#2
.. the Chan School's devotion to Meditation, called
..{dhayana in sanskrit};.
..#3
.. the Scholastic School's study of Dharma-teachings,
..#4
.. the Secret or Esoteric School's;
practice of Mantras and recitations.
..#5
.. the Pure Land School's chanting of the Buddha's name,
.
Still others describe it in terms of the "seven limbs of enlightenment".
..#1
..Mindfulness,
..#2
..investigation of Dharma's,
..#3
..striving,
..#4
..joy,
..#5
..tranquility,
..#6
..samadhi,
..#7
..and, equanimity
.
It's been my experience that referring back to a simple template,
helps to organize what can often be a dizzying array of information.
.
I've also found it helpful to categorize
the various types of meditation practices.
IE
1
.Contemplation
2
.Meditation
.Maha-yoga
..Deity-oriented practices
.Anu-yoga
..Breath and energy-oriented practices
.Ati-yoga
.Emptiness and Mindfulness-oriented practices.
.
I sincerely hope that I have not insulted your intelligence.
Even though I'm NOT an ordained Dharma Teacher,
I'd like to help out any way I can.
.
Also be sure to check out these great Web sites:
.
THEREVADA
.
.....http://world.std.com/~metta
.
.....http://www.dhammakaya.org
.
.....http://world.std.com/~metta/index.html
.
.....http://www.edepot.com/buddha.html
.
.....http://www.dhamma.org
.
.....http://www.hinduismtoday.kauai.hi.us/ashram/Dir-New.html
.
..Books
.
.http://www.shambhala.com
.
.
.MAHAYANA
.
..Pure Land
.
.http://www.aloha.net/~albloom/shinstudy
.
.....http://www.drba.org/welcome.htm
.
Sutras
.
.http://web.mit.edu/stclair/www/larger.html
.
..Ch'an {Chinese Zen}
.
.
...http://primo.bfm.org/zen/tran_index.html
.
http://www.isg-usa.com/sensei.htm
.
....http://www.hsuyun.org/Dharma/ZBOHY/index.html
.
....http://www.drba.org/welcome.htm
.
....http://www.darkzen.com/zennist.html
.
....http://primo.bfm.org/zen/index.html
.
..Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings
.
..
..http://www2.gol.com/users/rah/interbeing/interbeing.htm
.
..
..http://www.parallax.org/scripts/parallax/static.pl?file=intro.html
.
..Zen {Japanese Ch'an}
.
..
..http://www.darkzen.com/zennist.html
.
..
..http://www.obcon.org/obchome.html
.
..Books
.
..
..http://www.drba.org/BTTS/Comment.htm
.
..
..http://www.isg-usa.com/bstore.htm
.
..
..http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0807059110/qid=914525510/sr=1-1/002-8967141-9624003
.
..
..http://www.parallax.org
.
..
..http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0877731268/qid=912311603/sr=1-1/002-8967141-9624003
.
..
..http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0807013404/o/qid=916270251/sr=2-1/002-8967141-9624003
.
..
..http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0394736095/qid=916270338/sr=1-4/002-8967141-9624003
.
..
..http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0195064186/qid=916270338/sr=1-5/002-8967141-9624003
.
..
..http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0861711092/qid=912311756/sr=1-4/002-8967141-9624003
.
..
..http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1855384175/ref=sim_books/002-8967141-9624003
....http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN%3D9576380316/rogergarinmichauA/002-8967141-9624003
.
..
..http://www.chuavietnam.com/bookstore/index.html
.
..
..http://www.parrett.net/~lsanders/buddhistBooks.htm
.
..
..http://isis.infinet.com/rinpoche/donate.htm
.
.
...http://www.shambhala.com
.
..
..http://www.obcon.org/sapblis.html
.
..
..http://www.drba.org/BTTS/Sutras.htm#anchor1450871
.
.
.
.VAJRAYANA
.
..New Kadampa Tradition {Gelugpa}
.
..
..http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~kadampa/index.html
.
..
..http://www.he.net/~shugden/ds-hj.htm
.
..
..http://www.he.net/~shugden
.
..Kagu
.
..
..http://www.diamondway-buddhism.org
.
..
..http://www.diamondway.org
.
..Nyingma
.
..
..http://www.tara.org
.
..
..http://www.snowcrest.com/chagdud/index.htm
.
..Dzogchen
.
..
..http://www.dzogchen.org
.
..General
.
.http://www.dharma-haven.org/tibetan/prayer-wheel.htm
.
..
..http://www.jeffsutherland.org/tara/index.html
.
..Books
.
..
..http://www.tharpa.com
.
..
..http://www.padmabooks.com/index.htm
.
..
..http://www.shambhala.com
.
.
.
BUDDHIST HEALING TECHNIQUES
.
..http://www.oznumberone.net/reiki/reiki.htm
.
..http://www.isg-usa.com/mbh.htm
.
.
.
VEGAN RESOURCES
.
.http://www.isg-usa.com/sensei.htm
.
.http://www.veganoutreach.org
.
.
.
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
.
..http://www.wans.net/~tarnett/python
.
..http://www.stone-dead.asn.au/mainpage.htm
.
..http://www2.msstate.edu/~brb1/foxworthy
.
.
.
.