anuśrava (Sanskrit, hearsay, tradition; Pāli, anussava). Teachings handed down by word of mouth typically through a lineage of revered masters. The term is used by both Buddhists and Brahmins, the latter group often being criticized by the Buddha for their slavish adherence to the authority of tradition and reluctance to think for themselves.

A Dictionary of Buddhism, Oxford University Press, 2003, 2004 (which is available in electronic version from answer.com)