Expert: Bodhicitta - 6/7/2006

Question
Mr Bodhicitta,

Pardon my uninvited intrusion.  I am a born Buddhist knowledgeable and practising the Theravada tradition.  I am now in my 50's.  Please allow me to make some comments, in good faith.

The World Council Of Buddhists had agreed not to use the term "Hinayana" to describe "Theravada".  It was many years ago.  The Chinese Buddhists have also changed their terminology from "Big" and "Small" to "North" and "South".  However many Buddhists are still very ill-informed of this semantic problem.

Perhaps if we were to refer to Buddhist History, we may come to certain consensus and understanding.  Hopefully!  I would venture to recommend reading of this site:

www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/buddhahist.html

Let history speak for itself.

Peace, from Pearl  

Answer
Dear Pearl,
I bow to you as a venerable Theravda practioner. I started in this tradition and I still feel supported by the power of the practices I started within that tradition.

I welcome your intervention and comments in good faith.

I think we are agreeing aren't we? I did say that personally I do not like the term "Hinayana" as a reference
to "Theravada". I would agree that it is misinformed.

I have noted the URL and glanced through Dr. C. George Boeree of Shippensburg University's article. I did notice
that Dr George does use the term "Hinayana" as do many academics. This article does support my previous comment
that academics do tend to use this term in this way.  But I would tend to agree with you that it isnt appropriate.

I can only speak from my own experience. I have met and spoken to teachers in both Theravada, CHinese, and Tibetan Buddhism who inspired me . I bow to all teachers who
inspire and move beings to truth. At the end of the day
the words of the Buddha are that we should test and find
out whether the dharma is true for ourselves.

Peace
Bodhicitta.