A collective term used in Great Vehicle (mahāyāna) texts to refer to the Śrāvaka Vehicle (śrāvakayāna) and Pratyekabuddha Vehicle (pratyeka­buddhayāna). The name stems from its goal‍—nirvāṇa and personal liberation‍—being seen as lesser than the goal of the Great Vehicle‍—buddhahood and the liberation of all sentient beings.

This is a collective term used by proponents of the Great Vehicle to refer to the Hearer Vehicle (śrāvakayāna) and Solitary Buddha Vehicle (pratyeka­buddha­yāna). The name stems from their goal‍—nirvāṇa and personal liberation‍—being seen as small or lesser than the goal of the Great Vehicle‍—buddhahood and the liberation of all sentient beings. See also “Great Vehicle.”

A collective term used by proponents of the Great Vehicle (mahāyāna) to refer to the hearer vehicle (śrāvakayāna) and solitary buddha vehicle (pratyekabuddhayāna). The name stems from their goal‍—i.e. nirvāṇa and personal liberation‍—being seen as lesser than the goal of the Great Vehicle‍, i.e. buddhahood and the liberation of all sentient beings. See also “Great Vehicle.”

It is a collective term used by proponents of the Great Vehicle to refer to the Śrāvakayāna (Hearer Vehicle) and Pratyeka­buddha­yāna (Solitary-Buddha Vehicle). The name stems from their goal‍—i.e., nirvāṇa and personal liberation‍—being seen as small or lesser than the goal of the Great Vehicle‍—i.e., buddhahood and liberation of all sentient beings.

This is a collective term used by proponents of the Great Vehicle to refer to the hearer vehicle (śrāvakayāna) and solitary buddha vehicle (pratyeka­buddha­yāna). The name stems from their goal‍—i.e. nirvāṇa and personal liberation‍—being seen as small or lesser than the goal of the Great Vehicle‍—i.e. buddhahood and the liberation of all sentient beings. See also “Great Vehicle.”

It is a collective term used by proponents of the Great Vehicle to refer to the śrāvakayāna (hearer vehicle) and pratyeka­buddha­yāna (solitary buddha vehicle). The name stems from their goal‍—i.e. nirvāṇa and personal liberation‍—being seen as small or lesser than the goal of the Great Vehicle‍—i.e. buddhahood and liberation of all sentient beings. See also “Great Vehicle.”

This is a collective term used by proponents of the Mahāyāna to refer to the Śrāvakayāna and the Pratyekabuddhayāna. The name stems from their goal‍—nirvāṇa and personal liberation‍—being seen as small or lesser than the goal of the Mahāyāna‍—buddhahood and the liberation of all sentient beings.

Literally “the lesser way” or “lesser vehicle.” It is a collective term for the śrāvakayāna and pratyeka­buddha­yāna, which have nirvāṇa instead of buddhahood as their goal.

See “Disciple Vehicle.”