Hinayana

[ hee-nuh-yah-nuh ]

/ ˌhi nəˈyɑ nə /

noun

earlier of the two great schools of Buddhism, still prevalent in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, and Cambodia, emphasizing personal salvation through one's own efforts.

Also called Theravada.

Compare Mahayana.

Origin of Hinayana

1865–70; < Sanskrit, equivalent to hīna lesser, inferior + yāna vehicle

Example sentences from the Web for hinayana

If we wish to gain the lesser fruition (of the Hinayana) we may pursue it through the eight grades of sanctification.

Hinduism And Buddhism, Volume II. (of 3) |Charles Eliot
The first two which were the older seem to have belonged to the Hinayana and the other two even more definitely to the Mahayana.

Hinduism And Buddhism, Volume II. (of 3) |Charles Eliot
And if we look at the abuses of both systems the fossilized monk of the Hinayana will compare favourably with the tantric adept.

Hinduism And Buddhism, Volume II. (of 3) |Charles Eliot
In this also there were more than four thousand monks, all students of the hinayana.

Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms |Fa-Hsien

The Mahayana did not suppress the Hinayana but it gradually absorbed the traffic.

Hinduism and Buddhism, Vol I. (of 3) |Charles Eliot

British Dictionary definitions for hinayana

Hinayana

/ (ˌhiːnəˈjɑːnə) /

noun

any of various early forms of Buddhism
(as modifier)Hinayana Buddhism

Derived forms of Hinayana

Hinayanist, noun Hinayanistic, adjective

Word Origin for Hinayana

from Sanskrit hīnayāna, from hīna lesser + yāna vehicle

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Hinayana

noun

Origin of Hinayana

Example sentences from the Web for hinayana

British Dictionary definitions for hinayana

noun

Derived forms of Hinayana

Word Origin for Hinayana