POPULARIZED BUDDHISM

Originally, Buddhism was just for monks.  This was the Hinayana school, later known as the Theravada school, which centered around the Three Refuges, as they were called, the Buddha, the Dharma (i.e. the Buddha's teachings), and the Sangha (i.e. the brotherhood of monks).  

Monks would be away from their monasteries most of the year, living in the forest, in caves, and just generally in the out of doors.  During the rainy season, however, they returned to the monasteries, which of course would subsequently be crowded, sure to make the monks wish they were back outside again.

The ideal of the Hinayana monk was arahatship, or sainthood.  Everything for the monk had to do with his own liberation.  "Be a lamp unto yourself," the Buddha taught.

With the advent of Mahayana Buddhism, though, suddenly salvation was available to everyone, the Buddha's teachings now having a far broader audience.  The Mahayana Buddhist was to be a lamp to light the way for others, for the entire world if possible, the Buddha instructed.

In this popularized form, a follower of Buddhism need not renounce the world, family, and human affection in order to gain salvation.  What's more, salvation could come not only by way of knowledge, that is by way of the Buddha's teachings, but by way of faith and love as well.  This was a significant breakthrough, and arguably the reason Buddhism flourishes to this day.