The Mahi^/sa^saka sect. A Hi^naya^na school which branched off from Sarva^stiva^da （Sthavira） 有部 about three hundred years after S/a^kyamuni's death. Their beliefs were close to the Maha^sa^m!ghikas 大众部， especially regarding the point that past and future do not have true existence， only the present truly exists.