Śrāvakayāna

''Śrāvakayāna'' (; ; ) is one of the three '' yānas'' known to Indian Buddhism. It translates literally as the "vehicle of listeners .e. disciples. Historically it was the most common term used by Mahāyāna Buddhist texts to describe one hypothetical path to enlightenment. Śrāvakayāna is the path that meets the goals of an Arhat—an individual who achieves liberation as a result of listening to the teachings (or following a lineage) of a Samyaksaṃbuddha. A Buddha who achieved enlightenment through ''Śrāvakayāna'' is called a ''Śrāvakabuddha'', as distinguished from a Samyaksaṃbuddha or pratyekabuddha.

Use of the term

Isabelle Onians asserts that although "the Mahāyāna ... very occasionally referred contemptuously to earlier Buddhism as the Hinayāna, the Inferior Way," "the preponderance of this name in the secondary literature is far out of proportion to occurrences in the Indian texts." She notes that the term Śrāvakayāna was "the more politically correct and much more usual" term used by Mahāyānists. "Hīnayāna" (the "lesser vehicle"), however, was used to include both Śrāvakayāna and Pratyekabuddhayāna in contrast to the Mahāyāna.

In Early Buddhist schools

At least some of the early Buddhist schools used the concept of three vehicles including Śrāvakayāna. For example, the Vaibhāṣika Sarvāstivādins are known to have employed the outlook of Buddhist practice as consisting of the Three Vehicles:Nakamura, Hajime. ''Indian Buddhism: A Survey With Bibliographical Notes.'' 1999. p. 189

# Śrāvakayāna
# Pratyekabuddhayāna
# Bodhisattvayāna

The Dharmaguptakas regarded the path of a śrāvaka (''śrāvakayāna'') and the path of a bodhisattva (''bodhisattvayāna'') to be separate. One of their tenets reads, "The Buddha and those of the Two Vehicles, although they have one and the same liberation, have followed different noble paths."

In Mahāyāna traditions

In the 4th century Mahāyāna abhidharma work ''Abhidharmasamuccaya'', Asaṅga describes those who follow the Śrāvaka Vehicle (Skt. ''śrāvakayanika''). These people are described as having weak faculties, following the Śrāvaka Dharma, utilizing the Śrāvaka Piṭaka, being set on their own liberation, and cultivating detachment in order to attain liberation.Boin-Webb, Sara (tr). Rahula, Walpola (tr). Asanga. ''Abhidharma Samuccaya: The Compendium of Higher Teaching.'' 2001. p. 199-200 While those in the Pratyekabuddha Vehicle (Skt. ''pratyekabuddhayānika'') are portrayed as also utilizing the Śrāvaka Piṭaka, they are said to have medium faculties, to follow the Pratyekabuddha Dharma, and to be set on their own personal enlightenment. Finally, those in the Mahāyāna (Skt. ''mahāyānika'') are portrayed as utilizing the Bodhisattva Piṭaka, as having sharp faculties, following the Bodhisattva Dharma, and set on the perfection and liberation of all beings, and the attainment of complete enlightenment.

In Tibetan Buddhism

In the work written by Gampopa (1074-1153 C.E.), " The Jewel Ornament of Liberation, The Wish-fulfilling Gem of the Noble Teachings", the ‘Pratyekabuddha family’ are described as those who fear samsara and yearn to reach nirvana, but have little compassionate activity, benefiting other beings.

They cling to the idea that the unsullied meditative absorption they experience is Nirvana, when it's more like an island to find rest on the way to their actual goal. Rather than feel discouraged, the Buddha taught the ''Śravakabuddha'' and ''Pratyekabuddha'' paths for rest and recuperation. After finding rest, they are encouraged and awakened by the Buddha's body speech and mind to reach final Nirvana. Inspired by the Buddha, they then cultivate Bodhicitta and practice the Bodhisattva path.

In Theravāda traditions

''Sāvakabuddha''

Sāvakabuddha is a Pali term (equivalent to Sanskrit: ), used rarely in Theravada Buddhism, to refer to an enlightened disciple of a Buddha. '' Sāvaka'' means "one who hears"; a person who follows the path to enlightenment by means of hearing the instructions of others. Lay persons, who take special vows, are called ''sāvaka''s. Such enlightened disciples obtained by hearing the dhamma as initially taught by a sammasambuddha. A Sāvakabuddha is distinguished from a Sammasambuddha and a Paccekabuddha. The standard designation for such a person is " arhat".

Buddhas are supposed to reach by their own efforts and insights. A ''Sāvakabuddha'' might also lead others to enlightenment, but cannot teach the dhamma in a time or world where it has been forgotten, because they depend upon a tradition that stretches back to a ''Sammasambuddha''.

The term ''Sāvakabuddha'' is used in Theravadin commentaries''Udana Commentary'', tr Peter Masefield, volume I, 1994, Pali Text Society, page 94; Theragatha commentary, PTS edition, volume I, page 10, not yet translated, cited by Pruitt in ''Journal of the Pali Text Society'', volume XXIX, forthcoming but does not occur in the scriptures of the Pāli Canon.

See also

* Early Buddhist schools

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sravakayana
Arhats
Mahayana
Theravada
Early Buddhism