Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c9.s6.7

c9.s6.7

(When fear and pain are disliked by myself as well as others, why should I distinguish myself from others that I should seek protection for myself and not for others.) It is mahākaruṇā, *i.e.*, consideration for others' good that pervades the whole conception of bodhisattva practices². This has, we must admit, relaxed to a large extent the rigidity of disciplinary rules, a thing which would never be allowed by the Hinayānists. Maitrī is, in fact, a corollary to Karuṇā; it means that a bodhisattva must love all beings as he would love his own son³. Though the two expressions are very often mentioned together, it is mahākaruṇā that greatly appealed to the minds of the Mahāyānists. At any rate, we cannot but appreciate this ideal of the Mahāyānists, if we take into consideration their philosophy of Samatā (equality), for the proper exercises of mahākaruṇā and mahāmaitrī can really be effective in making the average mind develop gradually the thought of samatā (equality or sameness).