MAHAYANISTS AND HUMAN NATURE

In Buddhism, Hinayana is translated as the "Lesser Vehicle," while Mahayana means the "Greater Vehicle."  Hinayanists did not like being thought of as lesser, so they changed their name to Theravada, meaning Buddhism "Of the Elders."

Hinayana is original Buddhism, the Buddhism of the Buddha, so-called, the Buddhism of monks.  The ideal of Hinayana is the arahant, or saint, one who has attained buddhahood for himself. 

Mahayana is Buddhism of the masses.  The ideal of Mahyana is the bodhisattva, a person who has postponed his entry into full buddhahood so that he may teach others the Buddha's message. 

According to Mahayanists, everyone suffers, not just those who become monks and join a monastery.  Everyone is qualified to be taught the Buddha's Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.

Are Mahayanists just nicer people for wanting to include everyone in their Buddhism, or is there something else at work here, something having to do with human nature? 

When one feels passionately about something, his natural urge is to share it with other people, the more the better.  Similarly, when one is especially proficient at something, he is more inclined to show others how to do it than to keep it to himself.  Mahayana Buddhists are both passionate about and proficient at their Buddhism.

The step from the Lesser Vehicle to the Greater Vehicle may therefore have less to do with who are the more compassionate Buddhists, or what is morally the right thing to do, and more to do with human nature.