[Buddha-l] Lamas and such

[James Ward]

Hi Dan,

You wrote:

> This is analogous to the term "Hinayana" -- it's fine to declare the 
> term a Mahayanist pejorative fantasy (their version of degenerate 
> Buddhism, or "inadequate" Buddhism). Problem is, we have no readily 
> available term to replace it: Theravada not only does not cover all 
> the non-Mahayana schools (various Sarvastivada schools, Mahi"sasikas, 
> Sammitiyas, Dharmaguptas, etc. etc.), the Theravadins are often 
> ignored in the medieval Buddhist polemic intra-Buddhist debates, where 
> one most needs a descriptive blanket term. I don't know how others are 
> solving this, but I have taken to using the uncomfortable and 
> similarly problematic term "non-Mahayanic" as its replacement. That 
> still privileges Mahayana and positions all other forms of Buddhism 
> vis-a-vis Mahayana, so not a good solution. Anyone have a better 
> replacement?

In this context, back in 1993 I remember Jan Nattier referring to the 
term "Nikaya Buddhism" as a possible alternative.  I think she was 
referring to someone else's use of it, but I don't remember who that 
might have been.

Hm, I see there is a Wikipedia article for it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikaya_Buddhism

In that article reference and links are made to a lengthier article 
"Early Buddhist Schools," which we could assume the authors are 
considering the more central term for this collection of interconnected 
articles.

If not "Early Buddhist Schools," how about "Eighteen-School Buddhism?"

James Ward