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Mahayana

(mä′hə yä′nə)

noun

a major movement or school in Buddhism: it emphasizes acts of virtue and compassion rather than asceticism and contemplation

Origin: Sans mahāyāna, lit., greater vehicle

See Mahayana in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

One of the major schools of Buddhism, traditionally active in much of Nepal, Tibet, and East Asia and emphasizing compassion and the possibility of universal salvation.

Origin:

Origin: Sanskrit Mahāyānam, greater vehicle (as contrasted with Hīnayānam, lesser vehicle; see Hinayana)

Origin: : mahā-, great; see meg- in Indo-European roots

Origin: + yānam, vehicle; see ei- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

Maˌha·yaˈnist noun

Maˌha·ya·nisˈtic adjective

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