Realize that these positions in the Hinayana and Mahayana traditions are extremely advanced. The difference between the two paths is that bodhisattvas continue to exist, incarnation after incarnation, in samsara, interacting with and helping sentient beings. They do so because of their vows. Yet, althought they are within samsara, they do not experience suffering; neither do they think about leaving behind samsara to attain Buddhahood. Arhats, on the other hand, have more of an affinity for the Hinayana path. They do not have as their highest aspiration the impetus to deliver sentient beings. However, this is temporary, and after a long time (many lifetimes), arhats may follow the Bodhiosattva Path.

Practitioners of the Hinayana Path may attain higher levels of cultivation more quickly than Mahayana practitioners because their aspiration is to eradicate vexations. Bodhisattva Path practitioners, however, do not have as their objective the termination of vexations. Their goal is to cultivate merit and virtue for the sake of sentient beings. Practitioners of the Mahayana Path are forever immersed in the world of vexation. Therefore, it is more difficult to transcend the view of the individual self; and until they do so, such practitioners cannot be consider true bodhisattvas. After they reach the first bhumi (eradication of the view of the individual self, ) they are true bodhisattvas. Still, they must continue to practice and make vows to help others because merit and virtue are not complete, even at the eight bhumi.