Mahayana
(Pal.). Literally means, “the great vehicle” and refers to the Spiritual Teaching of Tibet as distinct from the Hinayana or “smaller vehicle”, the Teaching of the Northern Buddhists. The school was founded by Magarjuna and its books were written in the second century B.C. (TG)
Mahayana is as closely related to Hinayana as Buddhism to Vedanta. Mahayana knows and reveals the nature of the world of the elements. Hinayana emphasizes causes and effects and teaches the avoidance of the recurring issue of the causes. The Teaching strikes sparks from the chaos of the elements. One may study these images, but it is equally correct to concentrate on cause and effect. If we should call Buddha the Cause, then Maitreya is the Effect. (AY, 287)
see also Hinayana, Padma Sambhava
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