The Great Vehicle is another name for which Buddhist tradition?

• A. Zen
• B. Vajrayana
• C. Theravada
• D. Mahayana

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is the meaning of the term “Great Vehicle” in Buddhism. It directly names the tradition known as Mahayana, since mahā means “great” and yāna means “vehicle” or “path.” This designation signals a broader approach to awakening that emphasizes the bodhisattva ideal—seeking enlightenment for the sake of all beings, not just one’s own liberation.

In contrast, Theravada is often associated with the older emphasis on individual enlightenment and the path of an arhat, not the universal compassion stressed in Mahayana. Within Mahayana, Zen is a school focused on direct insight and meditation practice, while Vajrayana is a tantric development within the Mahayana framework. None of these are the name “Great Vehicle” itself, but they fall under the Mahayana umbrella.