Shravakayana

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Śrāvakayāna is one of the three yānas known to Mahāyāna Buddhism. It translates literally as the "vehicle of hearers [i.e. disciples]". The term is used by some Mahayana Buddhists to describe one hypothetical path to enlightenment. Śrāvakayāna is the path that meets the goals of a Śrāvakabuddha – an individual who achieves liberation as a result of listening to the teachings (or lineage) of a Bodhisattva Buddha. Śrāvakabuddhas are not able to be the first in their age to turn the wheel of Dharma.

Śrāvakayāna is also sometimes used as a euphemism for "Hīnayāna" (the "lesser vehicle") in reference to certain early schools of Buddhism, however the latter term most often was used to include both Śrāvakayāna and Pratyekayāna, in order to distinguish them from the Mahāyāna.

For a discussion of early Buddhist schools, see early Buddhist schools.

For a discussion of the nomenclature problem for pre-Mahāyāna Buddhism, see Hīnayāna.

For a discussion of the spiritual goal of a Sravaka, see Śrāvakabuddha.

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