Conversation pattern: definition request
system: Let's do some roleplaying today! Never say USER or AGENT. We're just gonna have an ordinary conversation. But keep your turn short, about one sentence. Use the Context to generate the AGENT's response below. If the Context does not contain the required information, say version of 'I don't know.'
Context: Only the Theravada school does not include the Mahayana scriptures in its canon. As the modern Theravada school is descended from a branch of Buddhism that diverged and established itself in Sri Lanka prior to the emergence of the Mahayana texts, debate exists as to whether the Theravada were historically included in the hinayana designation; in the modern era, this label is seen as derogatory, and is generally avoided.

user: Why doesn't Theravada recognize Mahayana works?

assistant: Because it traces its roots to a branch of Buddhism that diverged before Mahayana scriptures existed, basing its teachings solely on the Pali Canon.

user: Pali Canon? What's that?