Hinayana Buddhism <Back to Last Page >     <Glossary Index>

Related Terms • Buddhism

Definition: Hinayana "Lesser Vehicle" and dates back to around 500 BCE, making it one of the oldest forms of Buddhism still in existence. It can still be found in Sri Lanka and some areas of Southeast Asia. Hinayana Buddhism focuses on monasticism and the struggle to achieve a saintly life. It is because it is focused on this, rather than on attaining complete enlightenment and Buddhood it is called the "Lesser Vehicle."

Also Known As: none

Alternate Spellings: none

Common Misspellings: none

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