The Great Vehicle, the schools of Buddhism that followed on the reform of the Hinayana between 100 A.D. and 200 A.D. It embodies the bodhisattva idea. The realisation of shunyata, or voidness is emphasised in the Mahayana Schools. Its doctrines derive from the Sanskrit version of the Buddhist canon.

Tib. Thegchen] the greater vehicle. One with the motivation and practice to reach enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. Its very basis is the development of compassion and ransworldy wisdom.

The vehicle of bodhisatvas striving for perfect enlightenment for the sake of all beings.

The Great Vehicle. One of the major schools of Buddhism active in Central Asia, China, Korea and Japan that teaches not only individual salvation, but also the importance of leading others to enlightenment as well.

(S) greater vehicle – this is one of the two major divisions of Buddhism, which emphasizes the Boddhisattva ideal of saving all living beings instead of only saving oneself.  Its primary concern is compassion and wisdom and is dominant in Northern Asia (Kennett 1976).

"Mohanikay", or 'Great Vehicle', Buddhist sect.

'large vehicle' paths/schools which aim for the enlightenment of all beings.

"Great Vehicle", Northern Buddhism of Tibet, China, Korea, and Japan stressing the Bodhisattva ideal.

The Greater Vehicle; form of Buddhism practised in East Asia, Tibet and Nepal

The "Greater Vehicle" school of Buddhism which spread to central Asia, China, Korea, Japan and Tibet. This school holds the Historical Buddha to be incarnation on earth of an eternal cosmic Buddha and one who has incorporated a proliferation of celestial persons (eternal Buddhas, major and minor deities, saints and disciples, mythical beings) as well as Bodhisattvas. It is the representation of these celestial persons that forms the basis of most artistic work in gompas.

form of Buddhism, also called "the Great Vehicle", practised in northern Asian countries (Tibet, Nepal, Japan). However, one will observe that the Tibetan Buddhism has experienced deep transformations. Thus, it has incorporated the ancient local Bön religion; for these reasons, it is usually designated as the Vajrayana. The Buddhim of the Small Vehicle (Hînayâna also called Theravâda or Buddhism of forefathers), is practised in south Asia countries, such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam). The Mahâyâna was the consequence of a schism which occured at the very beginning of our era. The Hînayâna put emphasis on the objective of individual Liberation ( Moksha) of the practitioner. We must understand Liberation as liberation of conditioned behaviors and thoughts; however, the understanding of this concept would require long developments... The Mahâyâna is characterized, among other features, by the boddhitsattva vow, whose aim is the liberation of all living beings

Sanskrit word for "Great Vehicle", the spiritual path to great enlightenment. The Mahayana goal is to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings by completely abandoning delusions and their imprints.

great vehicle, northern school of Buddhism

Great Way or Vehicle. Teachings that spread from India into Tibet, parts of Asia and the Far East, characterised by the Bodhisattva ideal and the prominence given to the development of both compassion and wisdom.

Literally meaning the "Great Vehicle," it is the school of Buddhism that is prominent in Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and East Asia. It has incorporated many of the areas original religious beliefs with the original Theravada beliefs. This school emphasizes the path of the Bodhisattva. Vajrayana is a later developed branch of Mahayana.

Greater Vehicle. The northern branch of Buddhism. More doctrinally liberal than Theravada (recognizes several non-historical sutras as canonical -- it should be noted, however, that even Theravada gives canonical authority to some non-historical works, such as the Jatakas or the Abhidhamma for that matter). Strong focus on alleviation of suffering of all sentient beings.

one of two great schools of Buddhist doctrine emphasizing a common search for universal salvation especially through faith alone; the dominant religion of China and Tibet and Japan

"Great Vehicle". Tendency or approach that developed within Buddhists from the 1st cent BCE onwards. Associated with the revelation of many new texts (see MAHAYANA SUTRAS) held to have been taught by the historical Buddha Shakyamuni in his lifetime but to have been hidden because the time was not yet ready for their being taught publicly. Key Mahayana emphases are on the partial and selfish nature of the ARHATës enlightenment as compared with that of a fully-enlightened BUDDHA, and the need to arouse the motivation of BODHICITTA in order to attain full enlightenment. It was also associated with new philosophical perspectives (see CITTAMATRA, MADHYAMAKA) and deities (see BODHISATTVA, BUDDHA, TRIKAYA DOCTRINE).

The "Greater Vehicle" of Buddhism, a system of teachings and practices for those whose goal is enlightenment for the benefit of all.

(Sanskrit, "greater vehicle"). School of Buddhism emphasizing a path to enlightenment that does not require monasticism and so is open to all. The Mahayana ideal is the bodhisattva, who helps others out of compassion, instead of the arhat of Theravada Buddhism. The Mahayana school incorporates a variety of traditions, lifestyles, and rituals, including the meditation-focused Zen and the devotional Pure Land Buddhism.

A branch of Buddhism commonly practiced among Buddhists in the United States.

a Buddhist traddition emphasizing working, studying and practicing meditation for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Literally, "great vehicle." One of the three major forms of Buddhism, Mahayana is considered the more liberal and practical. Its scriptures are written in Sanskrit. See also Theravada and Vajrayana.

In Buddhist thought, the Great Vehicle to achieve nirvana.

Also called Great Vehicle or Bodhisattva Vehicle. It is a school of Buddhism prevalent in China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Tibet and other places in the Far East. Mahayana is described as seeking Buddhahood and transforming beings, thus self-benefiting for the benefits of the others.

Literally “great vehicle,” a later form of Buddhism arising about the fourth century CE that distinguished itself with such beliefs as in salvific bodhisattvas and paradisical places. See also: http://www.exeas.org/resources/foundations-text-4.html.

The path followed by a Bodhisattva leading to the Full Enlightenment of Buddhahood.

(Skt) The greater vehicle; one of the two major divisions of Buddhism, as in China, Korea, Vietnam, Tibet and Japan.

Lit., great vehicle; the dominant Buddhist tradition of China. Special characteristics of Mahayana are 1. Emphasis on bodhisattva ideal, 2. The accession of the Buddha to a superhuman status, 3. The development of extensive philosophical inquiry to counter Brahmanical and other scholarly argument, 4. The development of elaborate devotional practice.

(stream of Buddhism): Emphasizes underlying wisdom, aiding society. See Theravada.

Literally, the greater vehicle. A general term applied to forms of Buddhism that arose in India around 100 BCE-100 CE. The Buddhisms of Central Asia, Tibet, China, Japan, and Korea are Mahayana. It is characterized by the emphasis on sunyata (emptiness) and the belief in bodhisattvas, awakened ones who forgo entry into Nirvana to give aid to the suffering world. Zen is a form of Mahayana Buddhism.

Sanskrit; literally, "the Great Vehicle"; one of the three major schools of Buddhism which developed in India during the first century C.E.; it is called the "Great Vehicle" because of its all-inclusive approach to liberation as embodied in the bodhisattva ideal and the desire to liberate all beings; the Mahayana school is also known for placing less emphasis on monasticism than the Theravada school and for introducing the notion of sunyata.

One of the two major branches of Buddhism, it is the bodhisattva path of aspiring to help all sentient beings to attain enlightenment.

the great vehicle, encompassing most sects of Buddhism

(Sanskrit) Buddhism: the Buddhism practiced in northern Asia; encompasses schools in China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet.

"The Great Vehicle Buddhism."

(Skt.): 'Greater vehicle' (Maha = great, Yana = vehicle. (as opposed to the HINAYANA or smaller vehicle). Buddhist path which leads to Buddhahood, emphasising great COMPASSION for all SENTIENT BEINGS. Also called " BODHISATTVA-yana". It includes SUTRAYANA and TANTRAYANA.

Literally, Great Vehicle. It is one of the two general divisions of Buddhism. Mahayana practitioners' motivation for following the Dharma path is principally their intense wish for all mother sentient beings to be liberated from conditioned existence, or samsara, and to attain the full enlightenment of buddhahood. The Mahayana has two divisions, Paramitayana (Sutrayana) and Vajrayana (Tantrayana, Mantrayana). Cf Hinayana.

(Pronunciation: "MAH-hah-yah-nah") "The Greater Vehicle," a form of Buddhism that developed in India around the time of Christ and spread to China, Korea, Tibet, and Japan by the 7th century.

( Skt.): Literally, "great vehicle." Although mahayana practice is founded on the hinayana ideal to personally liberate oneself from suffering, the motivation in mahayana practice is to strive to reach enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. Mahayana is also referred to as the bodhisattvayana.

Lit., Great Vehicle. The special characteristics of Mahayana Buddhism are the emphasis on the Bodhisattva Ideal, the accession of the Buddha to a superhuman status, and the development of extensive philosophical inquiry to counter Brahminic and other scholarly arguments, as well as the development of elaborate devotional practice.

(Skt); theg pa chen po (Tib). The Sanskrit word Maha means great, and yang means vehicle. Mahayana is often translated into English as the ‘Great Vehicle’ to distinguish it from the Hinayana, or ‘Lesser Vehicle’. While the Hinayana stresses the importance of individual liberation from cyclic existence, postulating that it is not possible to help other beings short of enlightenment, the Mahayana emphasises altruism as the major motivation for following the Buddhist path. Mahayana includes both sutric (or Bodhisattvayana) and tantric (or Vajrayana) levels.

Sanskrit for, "large raft" or "large vehicle," the form of Buddhism practiced by the majority of Buddhists. With less emphasis placed on the disciplines of the monastic life, its popularity is predominantly among the laity, for whom the Buddha is seen as a compassionate savior figure who will assist followers along the way to Nirvana, and to whom petitionary prayer can be offered. The Mahayana tradition also emphasizes the achieving of "emptiness," i.e., the utter extinguishing of the ego, as well as the perception that no sensory person or object, not even the Buddha himself or the teachings, have an independent "self." The only true reality is the "void." Centers of Mahayana Buddhism include China, Japan, Korea and Tibet, as well as Vietnam in Southeast Asia. See Bodhisattva, Hinayana, Theravada.

Chinese version of Buddhism; placed considerable emphasis on Buddha as god or savior. (p. 263)

(da-sheng): The path or vehicle to become a bodhisattva. It is one of the two general divisions of Buddhism, the other being hinayana. It is the tradition of Buddhism practiced in northern Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Tibet and the Himalayan regions. The Mahayana practitioners’ motivation for following the Dharma path is principally their intense wish for all sentient beings to be liberated from suffering and its causes. To this purpose, the goal of the mahayana is the attainment of the supreme enlightenment of Buddhahood. The open path consisting of the practice of the six paramitas (perfect virtues) or paramitayana and vajrayana, the secret mantra or adamantine vehicle (tantra), are the two great vehicles of the mahayana.

Mahayana ( → , Chinese: 大乘, Dàchéng; Japanese: 大乗, Daijō; Korean: 대승, Dae-seung; Vietnamese: Đại Thừa) is one of two major branches of Buddhism existing today, the other being Theravada (上座部). Mahayana originated in the Indian subcontinent of what is today northern Pakistan and spread to China during the first century CE where it was Sinicized and then spread throughout East Asia in its Sinicized form. The main countries in which it is practiced today are China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam.