The Listeners are a group of Buddhist practitioners who plan to clean ALL emotional afflictions within themselves. Their goal is to become an Arhat, a Noble One.
by Khenpo Tashi
The Vehicle of the Listeners, called “Sravaka-yana“, is a very important path that Buddha Shakyamuni kindly taught. The Sravakayana is the first of two vehicles inside what we call “Hina-yana” or small vehicle.
Hina means “small”, yana means “vehicle or path”. So, Hinayana is “small path”. Why small? Is it less important? Let’s focus here for a moment.
NOTHING IS SMALL IN THE WORD “HINA”
When we see the Sanskrit word “hina” or small, we think that this is really a small vehicle. Haha! Then, there is the Maha-yana, the “great vehicle”. Hearing that it is ‘great’, we might think, “Instead of the Hinayana practice, I should aim for Mahayana practice instead.
Yes, yes. We should always follow Mahayana. But, first, we talk about how important Hinayana is.
Actually, “hina” is a very big word. Does that make sense?
“Hina” word carries a very big meaning .Actually, Buddhist path is like today’s school system. There is the nursery, grade school, high school, college and masters degree.
Hinayana, the “small” vehicle, is like college degree. So, from (the point of view of) Master’s degree, college degree looks low and easy. But from (the point of view of) nursery, college is very, very far away. College is very, very difficult, right? For a nursery student.
Same, Hinayana is also like college, Mahayana is the masters degree, and we are in nursery level!
From (the viewpoint of) Mahayana, Hinayana looks small. But from (the viewpoint of) nursery, like our position, Hinayana is still some steps to go.
Check if this is true or not. What is a Hinayana practitioner? Someone who has completed purified all emotional afflictions. Look at ourselves. Do I have strong emotions? My emotions sometimes control me?
If yes, then, we have not cleaned all emotional afflictions inside us. Then, we are still below the Hinayana path. Hence, Hinayana is not small for most of us! Haha!
MOTIVATION IS MOST IMPORTANT
Motivation of Srvakayana practitioner is renunciation of Samsara. Do we have complete, 100% renunciation of Samsara? Check!
Why is motivation important?
That is the mental image, the urge, the desire. From that desire or wish or craving, everything will follow. Everything we will know, because of the motivation. The motivation is crucial.
From that motivation, the view, action and result will follow. All the brilliant qualities and accomplishments of a Sravaka can follow behind the correct motivation. (READ: Three Vehicles of Buddhism)
IN SUMMARY: THE MEANING OF TAKING REFUGE
Renunciation of Samsara is the exact same meaning as Taking Refuge in the Triple Gems. Once our feeling of renunciation of Samsara is getting stronger, where are we heading towards? To the reliable teachings and path of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. So, our feeling of Taking Refuge is getting stronger.
So, when in any prayer, there is one line about Taking Refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, everything we taught just now is in that one Refuge line. The whole Sravaka path is found in that Taking Refuge line.
So, next time, when you recite the Taking Refuge, it is very important and precious. How heavy and meaningful Taking Refuge is?
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In the next article are the explanations of the main terms of the Sravaka path. In the previous article are an introduction to the Three Vehicles of Buddhism, the Sravaka path being the first vehicle.