Mahayana
noun
Ma·ha·ya·na
ˌmä-hə-ˈyä-nə 
: a liberal and theistic branch of Buddhism comprising sects chiefly in China and Japan, recognizing a large body of scripture in addition to the Pali canon, and teaching social concern and universal salvation compare theravada
Examples of Mahayana in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
An order of nuns still survives in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam, where Mahayana Buddhism is practiced.
—
Megan Bryson, The Conversation, 6 May 2025
Surveillance video from an acupuncture and massage business on Canal St. that shares its location with the Mahayana Buddhist Temple shows Ouyang breaking a window there shortly before 1 a.m., police said.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
One of the show’s earliest large-scale works, of the kind called a thangka painting in Tibet, is a portrait of the Indian monk Atisha (A.D. 982 to A.D. 1054), who was instrumental in introducing later schools of Buddhism — Mahayana, Vajrayana — to Tibet.
—Holland Cotter, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024
An overnight cruise around Ashtamudi Lake on the hotel’s Mahayana houseboat, a two-bedroom vessel with hotel trappings, is a worthwhile experience.
—Prasad Ramamurthy, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2024
Furthermore, Mahayana Buddhists believe bodhisattvas choose to be reborn, to experience the pain and suffering of the world, in order to help other beings attain enlightenment.
—Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2023
In a place as spiritual as Bhutan—where 75 to 80 percent of its less than 800,000-person population are Mahayana Buddhist—meditation and temple visits were the main reason for visitors.
—Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 12 Dec. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Megan Bryson, The Conversation, 6 May 2025
Surveillance video from an acupuncture and massage business on Canal St. that shares its location with the Mahayana Buddhist Temple shows Ouyang breaking a window there shortly before 1 a.m., police said.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
One of the show’s earliest large-scale works, of the kind called a thangka painting in Tibet, is a portrait of the Indian monk Atisha (A.D. 982 to A.D. 1054), who was instrumental in introducing later schools of Buddhism — Mahayana, Vajrayana — to Tibet.
—Holland Cotter, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024
An overnight cruise around Ashtamudi Lake on the hotel’s Mahayana houseboat, a two-bedroom vessel with hotel trappings, is a worthwhile experience.
—Prasad Ramamurthy, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2024
Furthermore, Mahayana Buddhists believe bodhisattvas choose to be reborn, to experience the pain and suffering of the world, in order to help other beings attain enlightenment.
—Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2023
In a place as spiritual as Bhutan—where 75 to 80 percent of its less than 800,000-person population are Mahayana Buddhist—meditation and temple visits were the main reason for visitors.
—Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 12 Dec. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Mahayana.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mahayana. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share