Mahayana

[ mah-huh-yah-nuh ]

/ ˌmɑ həˈyɑ nə /

noun

the later of the two great schools of Buddhism, chiefly in China, Tibet, and Japan, characterized by eclecticism and a general belief in a common search for salvation, sometimes thought to be attainable through faith alone.

Compare Hinayana.

Origin of Mahayana

1865–70; < Sanskrit, equivalent to mahā- great + yāna vehicle

OTHER WORDS FROM Mahayana

Ma·ha·ya·nist

[mah-huh-yah-nist] /ˌmɑ həˈyɑ nɪst/, noun

Example sentences from the Web for mahayana

Both schools existed but the Mahayana was the more flourishing.

Hinduism And Buddhism, Volume II. (of 3) |Charles Eliot
Students of the mahayana present offerings to the Prajna-paramita, to Manjusri, and to Kwan-she-yin.

Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms |Fa-Hsien
Their volumes were to the samurai what the Mahayana was to the Buddhist.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 2 |Various
The alien rulers, accordingly, showed interest in the Chinese shamans as well as in the shamanistic aspects of Mahayana Buddhism.

A history of China., [3d ed. rev. and enl.] |Wolfram Eberhard

And the Mahayana, if less self-centred, has also less self-reliance, and self-discipline.

Hinduism And Buddhism, Volume II. (of 3) |Charles Eliot

British Dictionary definitions for mahayana

Mahayana

/ (ˌmɑːhəˈjɑːnə) /

noun

a liberal Buddhist school of Tibet, China, and Japan, whose adherents aim to disseminate Buddhist doctrines, seeking enlightenment not for themselves alone, but for all sentient beings
(as modifier)Mahayana Buddhism

Derived forms of Mahayana

Mahayanist, noun

Word Origin for Mahayana

from Sanskrit, from mahā great + yāna vehicle

BROWSE DICTIONARY

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Mahayana

noun

Origin of Mahayana

OTHER WORDS FROM Mahayana

Example sentences from the Web for mahayana

British Dictionary definitions for mahayana

noun

Derived forms of Mahayana

Word Origin for Mahayana