Three vehicles: 3 definitions

Introduction:

Three vehicles means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Google Books: The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems

The Three Vehicles are known in Tibetan as theg pa gsum. They are:

  1. Hinayana,
  2. Mahayana, and
  3. Vajrayana.
Tibetan Buddhism book cover
context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

Discover the meaning of three vehicles in the context of Tibetan Buddhism from relevant books on Exotic India

General definition (in Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Three vehicles in Buddhism glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

Three Vehicles:—A technical term in Buddhism corresponding to the Sanskrit triyāna defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 2):

  1. The disciples’ vehicle (śrāvaka-yāna), 
  2. The independent Buddhas’ vehicle (pratyekabuddha-yāna),
  3. The great vehicle (mahā-yāna).

The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., triyāna, ‘three vehicles’). The work is attributed to Nagarguna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

Source: Buddhist Door: GlossaryThey are the Two Vehicles, plus the Bodhisattva Vehicle, i.e. the Vehicles for Sravaka, Pratyeka Buddha, and the Bodhisattva are called the Three Vehicles.

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