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Theravada means "small vehicle", because when a Theravadan becomes enlightened, he keeps to himself and doesn't teach anybody. And when he dies, he isn't reborn. (The idea is that only one person can fit in the "small vehicle".)
Mahayana means "large vehicle" because when they become enlightened, they teach people, and help them "get into the vehicle". Lots of people can fit in the "large vehicle".
The Dalai Lama follows Tibetan Buddhism, which is a branch of Mahayana.
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