HINAYANA BUDDHISMHinayana or Lesser Vehicle dates back to around 500 BCE, making it one of the oldest forms of Buddhism still in existence. It can still be found in Sri Lanka and some areas of Southeast Asia and focuses on monasticism and the struggle to achieve a saintly life. It is because it is focused on this, rather than on attaining complete enlightenment and Buddhahood it is called the Lesser Vehicle." Hinayana Buddhism follows the basic principles of the Pali