Skip to content
Tendai Buddhism UK

Tendai Buddhism UK

Home of the Tendai Buddhist School in the UK

  • Tendai UK on Facebook
  • Tendai UK on Twitter
  • Tendai UK on Instagram
  • About Us
    • Our history
    • UK Coordinators
    • Our Honorary Teachers
    • Lineage
  • Buddhism
    • Buddhism – The Basics
    • Tendai Buddhism
    • Daily practice
    • Recommended Reading
  • Our Locations
    • Tendai in Hampshire
    • Tendai around the World
    • Support us
  • Events
  • Contact Us
  • Blog – NEW!!
  • EQUALITY & SAFEGUARDING

Ekayāna

June 10, 2014 tendaiuk

Ekayāna is a Sanskrit word that means ‘One Vehicle’ or ‘Single Vehicle’. This idea features prominently in Tendai (Tientai) doctrine and comes from the Lotus Sutra. Buddhism is made up of many different ‘vehicles’ or ‘yanas’ – Śravakayāna, Mahayāna, Vajrayāna etc. The Ekayāna principle claims that all these different paths or ‘vehicles’ are expedient means (Upaya Skt; Hoben 方便 Jp), or devises used in order to teach and appeal to all the myriad sentient beings of the cosmos. This principle is found in the Lotus Sutra, most prominently in the Burning House Parable (Chapter 3). This principle was also used by Chih-i to explain and catagorize the countless (and often confusing and contradicting) Buddhist Sutras in his 5 Periods and 8 Teachings thesis.

What the Ekayāna principle teaches us, above everything, is that all the different schools are a means to an end and not the end itself. Whether you follow the Śravakayāna, Mahayāna, or Vajrayāna, you are following the Buddha-dharma.

Back to Tendai Buddhism

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Tagged Ekayāna, Hoben 方便 Jp, lotus sutra, Tendai Buddhism, Upaya Skt

Published by tendaiuk

View all posts by tendaiuk

Post navigation

Next postLotus Sutra

Blogroll

  • Hampshire Buddhist Society
  • Tendai California
  • Tendai California Cobb Mountain
  • Tendai in Australia
  • Tendai in Europe
  • Tendai in Greece
  • Tendai in Hawaii
  • Tendai In Japan
  • Tendai New York

Donate

Support us

Donate Button with Credit Cards
  • Tendai UK on Facebook
  • Tendai UK on Twitter
  • Tendai UK on Instagram
Blog at WordPress.com.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
%d bloggers like this: