Many Buddhas Point the Way

Over 2500 years ago, on his deathbed, Gautama Buddha said, to his followers: "Work out your own salvation with diligence."

Afterwards, ancient followers of the Buddhadharma path worked out their salvation, each in their own way.

Influenced by Hindu scholars, the early Buddhist community graciously begged to differ many times, and evolved into three paths of today: the monastic path of Theravada; the bodhisattva path of Mahayana, salvation through one's own power and the other power of Buddhas, bodhisattvas and deities; and, Vajrayana, salvation through Mahayana Buddhist tantric ritual.

Salvation for a Buddhist means spiritual awakening, be it gradual or sudden. Since the Theravada path is not for everyone, the Mahayana path has as many Buddhas as there are schools of Buddhism. Though the Mahayana way has many Buddhas, bodhisattvas and dieties, all of them are symbolic of the Buddhadharma.

For, just as the moon reflects the light of the sun, so too do Buddhas point the way.

Reference:

Death of a Buddha: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parinirvana
Vajrayana: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vajrayana_Buddhism
Mahayana: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana
Hinayana: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinayana
Theravada: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theravada