The different forms of Buddhism can be understood by becoming familiar with the two major schools that resulted from the Buddha's basic teachings: The two major schools of Buddhism, Theravada and the Mahayana, are known as different expressions of the same teaching of the Buddha. Because they agree upon and practice the core teachings of the Buddha’s Dharma. There was a division after the first council on the death of the Buddha, it was largely over the monastic rules and academic points such as whether an enlightened person could lapse or not. Time, culture and customs in the countries in Asia which adopted the Buddha-dharma have more to do with the differences, as you will not find any hostility between the two major schools, other than that created by debate on the expression of and the implementation of the Buddha's Teachings.  

 Main Differences