五乘

The five vehicles conveying to the karma reward which differs according to the vehicle: they are generally summed up as

(1) 入乘 rebirth among men conveyed by observing the five commandments;

(2) 天乘 among the devas by the ten forms of good action;

(3) 聲聞乘 among the (sa) śrāvakas by the four noble truths;

(4) 緣覺乘 among (sa) pratyekabuddhas by the twelve nidānas;

(5) 菩薩乘 among the Buddhas and bodhisattvas by the six (sa) pāramitās 六度 q. v. Another division is the various vehicles of bodhisattvas; (sa) pratyekabuddhas; (sa) śrāvakas; general; and (sa) devas-and-men. Another is Hīnayāna Buddha, (sa) pratyekabuddhas, (sa) śrāvakas, the gods of the Brahma heavens, and those of the desire-realm. Another is Hīnayāna ordinary disciples: (sa) śrāvakas: (sa) pratyekabuddhas; bodhisattvas; and the one all-inclusive vehicle. And a sixth, of Tiantai, is for men; (sa) devas; (sa) śrāvakas-cum-(sa) pratyekabuddhas; bodhisattvas: and the Buddha-vehicle. The esoteric cult has: men, corresponding with earth; (sa) devas, with water: (sa) śrāvakas, with fire: (sa) pratyekabuddhas, with wind; and bodhisattvas, with 空 the 'void'.