Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c5.s3.t4.11

c5.s3.t4.11

One remarkable feature, however, of the criticisms contained in these works against the Hinayānists is that they do not attempt to distort the position of the Hinayānists in order to win the laurel for the Mahāyānists. The statements made in them with regard to the Hinayānists are mostly borne out by the earlier and later Hinayāna works. Hence, instead of distorting their real position, they throw a flood of light on the Hinayānic doctrines. The Mahāyānists found fault with the Hinayānists, not because they misinterpreted the teachings of Buddha but because they looked upon as truth that which appeared to the Mahāyānists as only partial. In the next chapter, we shall examine the estimate made of the Hinayānists by the Mahāyānists, and the reasons underlying such an estimate.