Oh, just saw this.
Any thoughts Jundo
I think that when folks like Dogen used Hinayana, shravaka and pratyeka, they were not referring to "Theravada" Buddhism (Dogen may not have even known that it existed because communication was so poor), but to ANY narrow, goal oriented, self-concerned practice. So, the "small vehicle" (in it for their own enlightenment) or "hearer" (something like a merely intellectual "armchair Buddhist" today?) or "Pratyeka-buddha" (enlightened without teacher or Bodhisattva concern for others) are all lesser ways than the Mahayana Great Way and Bodhisattva Path to rescue the sentient beings. It is true that the Mahayana folks tended to think that the old "Suttas" provided a narrower message for people who could not "handle the full truth."
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But because "Hinayana" is often confused with meaning "Theravada" Buddhism, I tend to avoid it. I do not use "Source" or "Early" or "Original" Buddhism to describe Theravada either, because folks do not know that it is actually also a later tradition, sometimes younger in its practices and interpretations than Mahayana. So, I tend to use "South Asian" Buddhism. (One difference, for example, is that Theravada meditation is based on deep concentration states, 8 or 9 Jhanas, which may have been a Hindu influence that the Buddha rejected. The original 4 Jhanas are not that, and the 4th Jhana may have been a profound equanimity and putting aside as we find in Shikantaza, in fact.)
.
Anyway, many good Paths for many people, many not so good Paths too.
Gassho, J
stlah
Any thoughts Jundo
I think that when folks like Dogen used Hinayana, shravaka and pratyeka, they were not referring to "Theravada" Buddhism (Dogen may not have even known that it existed because communication was so poor), but to ANY narrow, goal oriented, self-concerned practice. So, the "small vehicle" (in it for their own enlightenment) or "hearer" (something like a merely intellectual "armchair Buddhist" today?) or "Pratyeka-buddha" (enlightened without teacher or Bodhisattva concern for others) are all lesser ways than the Mahayana Great Way and Bodhisattva Path to rescue the sentient beings. It is true that the Mahayana folks tended to think that the old "Suttas" provided a narrower message for people who could not "handle the full truth."
.
image.png
But because "Hinayana" is often confused with meaning "Theravada" Buddhism, I tend to avoid it. I do not use "Source" or "Early" or "Original" Buddhism to describe Theravada either, because folks do not know that it is actually also a later tradition, sometimes younger in its practices and interpretations than Mahayana. So, I tend to use "South Asian" Buddhism. (One difference, for example, is that Theravada meditation is based on deep concentration states, 8 or 9 Jhanas, which may have been a Hindu influence that the Buddha rejected. The original 4 Jhanas are not that, and the 4th Jhana may have been a profound equanimity and putting aside as we find in Shikantaza, in fact.)
.
Anyway, many good Paths for many people, many not so good Paths too.
Gassho, J
stlah
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