Literally, "listeners" to Buddha's teachings – practitioners of the Hinayana vehicle who, motivated by renunciation, strive to attain liberation from uncontrollably recurring rebirth (Skt. saṃsāra) and to become an arhat (liberated being). They practice, based on having listened to (heard) Buddha's teachings, which they transmit to others.
Tibetan: ཉན་ཐོས། nyan-thos
Sanskrit: śrāvaka
Pali: sāvaka
J. Hopkins: Hearer
Synonyms: Hearer; Listener
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