user157: I asked this question on the main site a few days ago. I'm concerned that Hinayana isn't the right term to be using with it's negative overtones. THelper has been kind enough to provide some alternatives.
So my question is - should we be using the term Hinayana on the site? If not could we/should we agree on an acceptable and accurate alternative that we will use? Also would we edit and correct Hinayana when we see it used on the site?

user13375: I believe the term Fundamental Vehicle is a good substitute for Hinayana and provides a suitable counterpart to the Great Vehicle or Mahayana.

user43: As I was just explaining in a comment to one of my answers, the term "Hinayana" is widely used by Tibetan Buddhism teachers to refer to basic/elementary/foundational (and because of this often simplified) aspects of Buddha-Dharma. If you'd go to their lectures, you'd hear this notion of Hinayana-understanding vs. Mahayana-understanding discussed in almost every other lecture. Amongst tens of books written by the teacher I consider my Root Guru, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a recently published 3-volume set has its first book, of 680 pages, dedicated to Hinayana, with this word used on almost every page.
Again, to emphasize, "Hinayana" is not used to refer to Theravada at all. Rather, it is used in two senses: one, to refer to a primitive interpretation of Buddha-Dharma (by a member of any school, and of any standing, but usually a beginner, or a "senior junior") and two, to refer to the first phase of Buddhist upbringing, during which the student is introduced to the most basic discipline and doctrines, that serve as the foundation for subsequent education & practice.
Imagine two teachers discussing their students with each other: "I have 3 Hinayana-level students, 2 Mahayana-level, and 1 Mahamudra" or "This guy is stuck at Hinayana level. Perhaps I should try Kriyayogatantra."
Whoever thinks the term is derogatory misses the point. The term is indeed used to refer to "primitive" or "elementary" level of Dharma. But we don't consider "elementary education" a derogatory term, do we? Or perhaps, in countries where Parliament comes in two houses, we don't consider The Lower House of Parliament a derogatory term? And when the rental cars come in three classes: economy, business and luxury -- we do not insist that the use of the term "economy" should be discouraged because it hurts the feelings of lower-income people etc.
The term "Hinayana" is an important term, used by thousands of gurus over thousands of years to teach their students a very important point: that Dharma, like any other non-trivial area of human activity goes far beyond simple logic, and requires depth, sensitivity, ability to compromise, to go beyond black-and-white view of the world, to juggle multiple contradicting needs, to understand different perspectives, and in general to not get stuck at the level of mechanical application of formulaic if-then-else rules.

user145: Term hinayana is from sutras. So, from mahayanistic point of view it's word of Buddha. Who we are to disregard it?
But term hinayana have it's context. It is not as widely applicable as it's used contemporary, which is unfortunate.
So, probably, what is truly called hinayana in appropriate sutras and sastras—we should leave that use as correct. But if used as blind synonym for 'early schools' or 'Theravada'—in that case why not replace.

157: <p>I asked <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/2271/is-there-a-better-term-than-hinayana">this question</a> on the main site a few days ago. I'm concerned that Hinayana isn't the right term to be using with it's negative overtones. THelper has been kind enough to provide some alternatives.</p>

<p>So my question is - should we be using the term Hinayana on the site? If not could we/should we agree on an acceptable and accurate alternative that we will use? Also would we edit and correct Hinayana when we see it used on the site?</p>
 13375: <p>I believe the term Fundamental Vehicle is a good substitute for Hinayana and provides a suitable counterpart to the Great Vehicle or Mahayana.</p>
 43: <p>As I was just explaining in a comment to one of my answers, the term "Hinayana" is widely used by Tibetan Buddhism teachers to refer to basic/elementary/foundational (and because of this often simplified) aspects of Buddha-Dharma. If you'd go to their lectures, you'd hear this notion of Hinayana-understanding vs. Mahayana-understanding discussed in almost every other lecture. Amongst tens of books written by the teacher I consider my Root Guru, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a recently published 3-volume set has its first book, of 680 pages, dedicated to Hinayana, with this word used on almost every page.</p>

<p>Again, to emphasize, "Hinayana" is not used to refer to Theravada at all. Rather, it is used in two senses: one, to refer to a primitive interpretation of Buddha-Dharma (by a member of any school, and of any standing, but usually a beginner, or a "senior junior") and two, to refer to the first phase of Buddhist upbringing, during which the student is introduced to the most basic discipline and doctrines, that serve as the foundation for subsequent education &amp; practice.</p>

<p>Imagine two teachers discussing their students with each other: "I have 3 Hinayana-level students, 2 Mahayana-level, and 1 Mahamudra" or "This guy is stuck at Hinayana level. Perhaps I should try Kriyayogatantra."</p>

<p>Whoever thinks the term is derogatory misses the point. The term is indeed used to refer to "primitive" or "elementary" level of Dharma. But we don't consider "elementary education" a derogatory term, do we? Or perhaps, in countries where Parliament comes in two houses, we don't consider The Lower House of Parliament a derogatory term? And when the rental cars come in three classes: economy, business and luxury -- we do not insist that the use of the term "economy" should be discouraged because it hurts the feelings of lower-income people etc.</p>

<p>The term "Hinayana" is an important term, used by thousands of gurus over thousands of years to teach their students a very important point: that Dharma, <em>like any other non-trivial area of human activity</em> goes far beyond simple logic, and requires depth, sensitivity, ability to compromise, to go beyond black-and-white view of the world, to juggle multiple contradicting needs, to understand different perspectives, and in general to not get stuck at the level of mechanical application of formulaic if-then-else rules.</p>
 145: <p>Term <em>hinayana</em> is from sutras. So, from mahayanistic point of view it's word of Buddha. Who we are to disregard it?</p>

<p>But term <em>hinayana</em> have it's <em>context</em>. It is not as widely applicable as it's used contemporary, which is unfortunate.</p>

<p>So, probably, what is truly called <em>hinayana</em> in appropriate <em>sutras</em> and <em>sastras</em>—we should leave that use as correct. But if used as blind synonym for 'early schools' or 'Theravada'—in that case why not replace.</p>
