Hinayana

[ hee-nuh-yah-nuh ]

noun
  1. earlier of the two great schools of Buddhism, still prevalent in Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, and Cambodia, emphasizing personal salvation through one's own efforts.

Origin of Hinayana

1
First recorded in 1865–70; from Sanskrit, equivalent to hīna “lesser, inferior” + yāna “vehicle”

Words Nearby Hinayana

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How to use Hinayana in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for Hinayana

Hinayana

/ (ˌhiːnəˈjɑːnə) /


noun
    • any of various early forms of Buddhism

    • (as modifier): Hinayana Buddhism

Origin of Hinayana

1
from Sanskrit hīnayāna, from hīna lesser + yāna vehicle

Derived forms of Hinayana

  • Hinayanist, noun
  • Hinayanistic, adjective

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