Eastern States Buddhist Temple of America, Inc. (ESBT) is the oldest Chinese Buddhist association on the East Coast of the United States, founded in 1962. Per the norms of the vast majority of Chinese Buddhists, ESBT is Mahayana in orientation. Meaning Great Vehicle in Sanskrit, this tradition is highly diverse, influencing Buddhists in China, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan.

Over half of the global Buddhist population is Mahayana, with the greatest number of adherents in China. Unlike the more conservative Theravada, Mahayana holds that enlightenment can be reached within a single lifetime by members of both the monastic and lay communities, emphasizing the figure of the Bodhisattva, aspirant to Buddhahood. Furthermore, Mahayana practices tend to take on a local, syncretic character, blending with existing ethno-national traditions.