Bodhicharyavatara Chapter 9, Stanzas 49-54

Here the Shravakayana argument points to the difference between the Pali sutras which are held to be the perfect words of the Buddha, and the Mahayana path which they say strays from his original teachings, and have no foundation in the sutras. It is explained in this way: the Buddha taught directly to those who sat in front of him, according to their capacities. Some received simple instruction and others more elaborated lessons, but there was never a contradiction, one set of teachings was built on the previous ones.

The Mahayana schools evolved through more complex understandings and therefore include and elaborate on the Shravakayana teachings, nothing is lost, but the terminology used and the explanations given bring a fuller understanding of emptiness not only of self, but of all phenomena. Thus when the Mahayana teachings which explain the way of the bodhisattva become integrated, the kleshas are set free; true compassion naturally arises as a result of fully realising the nature of self and all phenomena as emptiness.

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