Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c5.s3.4

c5.s3.4

The Mahāyānists distinguish themselves by saying that they seek the removal of both kleśāvaraṇa and jñeyāvaraṇa and this is possible by the realisation of both pudgalaśūnyatā and dharmaśūnyatā. The Hinayānists realise only the former, and thereby remove kleśāvaraṇa. They, therefore, attain vimukti (emancipation) from kleśas, and as far as this is concerned, they are on the same footing with the Mahāyānists, but they lack true knowledge as conceived by the Mahāyānists, viz., dharmaśūnyatā, because they do not remove jñeyāvaraṇa. The Hinayānists, however, do not admit their inferiority with regard to jñāna, for they consider that the destruction of avidyā (ignorance of the truth) or, in other words, acquisition of true knowledge is the only means to emancipation and this is effected by Arhats in the same way as by Buddhas. The Arhats are very often mentioned in the Pāli works as attaining sambodhi. They, however, admit that Buddhas, on account of their superior merits (technically, gotra), due to their long practice of meritorious actions, attain some powers and privileges, and also omniscience, which are beyond the reach of the Arhats. This is, in short, the relative position of the Hinayānists and the Mahāyānists.