Hinayanist
- noun
- /ˌhɪnəˈjɑːnɪst/
- Archaic
- A Hinayanist seeks personal enlightenment through meditation.
Examples
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She wrote her thesis on the philosophical differences between Mahayana and Hinayanist practices.
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Many Hinayanists follow the teachings of the Buddha closely.
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As a devoted Hinayanist, he emphasized personal spiritual development and discipline.
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The teachings of a Hinayanist often differ from those of the Mahayana tradition.
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As a devoted Hinayanist, he emphasized personal spiritual development and discipline.
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Many Hinayanists follow the teachings of the Buddha closely, focusing on individual enlightenment.
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The teachings of a Hinayanist often differ from those of the Mahayana tradition, highlighting distinct paths in Buddhism.
Synonyms
52
3.2
A person who follows the teachings of the Buddha
Surface Forms
Morphology
Hinayanist = Hinayana (opaque) = Hinayana + ist
The suffix '-ist' indicates a follower, but understanding requires knowledge of 'Hinayana', which is not a common English word.
Etymology
Hinayanist comes from the Sanskrit and Pali parts hina meaning 'lesser' and yana meaning 'vehicle'. A helpful way to remember it is to think of vehicle as a 'path' or way of practice, so a Hinayanist is someone who follows an earlier, more individual path in Buddhism and is different from the later Mahayana tradition.