hinayana

In Mahayana tradition, there are many many Arhats (not only in the Mahayana but in the Hinayana too), and some Bodhisattvas, even today.

My view of Buddhism is heavily Mahayana and Vajrayana based, and I know little of Hinayana and the other 'vehicles'.

> in hinayana, it's insight into no-self, in mahayana, it's insight into emptiness What's the difference?

To place this in perhaps more culturally familiar terms for Americans: the Hinayana (even this term is controversial) vs Mahayana branches are as different as Catholics and Protestants, with the Mahayana schools being basically as diverse as Protestantism.

I think that all such forms of Buddhism are now historical; in particular, I have been told that the Theravada teachings that are current especially in South-East Asia are not the same as hinayana - that Theravada includes significant mahayana influences.

This is entirely within the Hinayana tradition (use of Pali and so on) and there is, IMO, zero "spiritual" content in it.

Hinayana buddhism focuses a lot on renunciation of worldly affairs, but that's not all there is.

It also refers generally to "insight" meditation, where "insight" might depend on whether you are training in a mahayana or hinayana tradition (in hinayana, it's insight into no-self, in mahayana, it's insight into emptiness).

Incidentally, I used the term "hinayana", which can be translated as "narrow path", and is considered to be a put-down by some people.

Because you mention vipassana, I'm guessing Theravada / Hinayana.

Practitioners hold this ambition in mind, and see the "Hinayana" (small vehicle; a pejorative term used in Mahayana rhetoric to denounce other interpretations of Buddhism) ambition as limited or as merely a first step towards the ultimate goal of universal liberation.

I had disagreements between Buddhists in the Mahayana and Theravada schools in mind, though: I don't know of any escalating to violence(!), but the former calling the latter "Hinayana" (which is kind of like "The Inferior Way (to enlightenment)") is pretty petty.

This is entirely within the Hinayana tradition (use of Pali and so on) and there is, IMO, zero "spiritual" content in it.

It also refers generally to "insight" meditation, where "insight" might depend on whether you are training in a mahayana or hinayana tradition (in hinayana, it's insight into no-self, in mahayana, it's insight into emptiness).

Incidentally, I used the term "hinayana", which can be translated as "narrow path", and is considered to be a put-down by some people.

Practitioners hold this ambition in mind, and see the "Hinayana" (small vehicle; a pejorative term used in Mahayana rhetoric to denounce other interpretations of Buddhism) ambition as limited or as merely a first step towards the ultimate goal of universal liberation.

Hinayana buddhism focuses a lot on renunciation of worldly affairs, but that's not all there is.

Because you mention vipassana, I'm guessing Theravada / Hinayana.

So, the seers of Upanishads and non-lamaist sects of Buddhism (Hinayana), being seekers after truth with emphasis on seeing things as they are have described most significant principles of philosophy of the mind and moral philosophy something about 6 century BC, if we consider philosophy of the Buddha as culmination of that epoch.