Yāna (Sanskrit: यान and Pāli: “vehicle”) refers to a mode or method of spiritual practice in Buddhism. It is claimed they were all taught by the Gautama Buddha in response to the various capacities of individuals. On an outwardly conventional level, the teachings and practices may appear contradictory, but ultimately they all have the same goal.[1]
According to author Thien Tam, the reason the Buddha divided the teachings into Three Vehicles is because after attaining enlightenment, he preached the Avatamsaka Sutra for 21 days, but the disciples could not comprehend it. The Buddha then observed that the capacities of sentient beings were not the same, so he used skillful means to expound the Three Vehicles, which include:
Yāna (Sanskrit: यान and Pāli: “vehicle”) refers to a mode or method of spiritual practice in Buddhism. It is claimed they were all taught by the Gautama Buddha in response to the various capacities of individuals. On an outwardly conventional level, the teachings and practices may appear contradictory, but ultimately they all have the same goal.[1]
According to author Thien Tam, the reason the Buddha divided the teachings into Three Vehicles is because after attaining enlightenment, he preached the Avatamsaka Sutra for 21 days, but the disciples could not comprehend it. The
1/- Mahayana (Great Vehicle): Also called the Bodhisattva Vehicle, to guide those with great capacity and great wisdom to the state of Wonderful Enlightenment and to liberate countless sentient beings without tiring. Like an ox cart, it has the strength to carry many people.
2/- Middle Vehicle (Middle Vehicle): Also called the Pratyekabuddha Vehicle, to guide those with average capacity and average wisdom to the state of Equal Enlightenment, but the aspect of liberating others is not as extensive. Like a deer cart, it can carry a small number of people.
3/- Lower Vehicle (Lower Vehicle): Also called the Shravaka Vehicle, to guide those with lower capacity and lower wisdom to the state of Noble Path, only self-liberation, not yet liberating others. For example, a goat-drawn cart (yang xa) can carry one person. In modern times, we can compare these three vehicles to: a train, a car, and a bicycle. Of the three vehicles mentioned above, although there are differences in their level, each leads the practitioner out of the Three Realms (liberation from birth and death). The practitioners also progress towards the Supreme Vehicle (Buddha Vehicle) in the same way.
Commentary on the Repentance Sutra (TT: 1975)
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