Theravada Buddhism: Definition, Beliefs & Traditions

Theravada Buddhism, often referred to as the “Teaching of the Elders”, is one of the oldest and most traditional branches of Buddhism. It is deeply rooted in the original teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha. Theravada Buddhism places great emphasis on preserving the purity and authenticity of these teachings.

Followers of Theravada Buddhism strive for personal enlightenment (Arhatship) by carefully following the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Monastic life is highly valued, with monks and nuns devoting themselves to a life of meditation, discipline, and ethical behavior.

This branch of Buddhism is prevalent in countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia, where it plays a key role in shaping culture and spirituality. Theravada Buddhism’s focus on individual liberation and adherence to the original scriptures make it an important and influential school within the broader Buddhist tradition.

Theravada Buddhism

Introduction

Theravada is the most commonly used epithet for the oldest schools or sects of Buddhism. The Theravadins, adherents of the school, preserved their version of Gautama Buddha‘s teachings, or Buddha Dhamma, in the Pali canon for more than a millennium. The Mahavihara Order is the Sri Lankan offshoot of the Vibhajjavda lineage, which is in turn a sect of the Indian Sthavira Nikaya.

Theravada

Theravada Buddhism, often known as the “Teachings of the Elders”, is considered the oldest type of Buddhism. Theravada adheres to the concept of Vibhajjavada, which means “analytic instruction”. Buddhists who practice Theravada Buddhism are known as arhats. That is, they have attained enlightenment by embarking on the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism to “blow away” the three fires of greed, hatred, and ignorance. Most of Southeast Asia, including Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, practices Theravada Buddhism. He has around 100 million followers worldwide. Its principles are drawn from the Pali Tipitaka, also known as the Pali Canon, and its core teachings begin with the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism. Theravada is also one of the two primary schools of Buddhism, the other being Mahayana. Some say there are three primary schools, with Vajrayana Buddhism being the third. However, all Vajrayana schools are based on Mahayana philosophy and are also called Mahayana. Theravada makes two historical claims. The first is that it is the oldest type of Buddhism still practiced today, and the second is that it comes directly from the original sangha (the Buddha’s own students), whereas Mahayana does not. Followers of Hinayana Buddhism generally refer to their faith as the Theravada (Teachings of the Elders). The Hinayana sect is Theravada.

Origins of Theravada Buddhism

Theravada Buddhism originated in India and was one of the first types of Buddhism created after the death of the Buddha. In the great council of Buddhist monks and scholars after his death, known as the Second Buddhist Council, held in 383 BCE, a schism was created between Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. The main teachings of Theravada were written down in Sri Lanka, and from there and from India, they spread throughout Southeast India, including Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. There are also significant bodies of Theravada Buddhists in the United States.

Theravada faith

Theravada Buddhism emphasizes achieving self-liberation through self-effort. Meditation and concentration are essential steps on the path to enlightenment. The optimal way is to devote yourself fully to the monastic life. An adherent must “avoid all forms of evil, collect all that is good, and purify his mind.” Meditation is one of the primary methods used by Theravada Buddhists for self-improvement, which is why the monk devotes a significant amount of time to it. Path to Enlightenment: Each being must forge his own path to enlightenment without the help of God or gods. In Buddhism, enlightenment leads to nirvana, or liberation from the cycle of rebirth (samsara). As a result, he will no longer be reborn in Samsara. The Buddha’s teachings show the way, but we must make the journey ourselves. Most Theravada monks live in monastic communities.

Some people join as young as seven, but anyone can join at any age. A novice is known as a Samanera, and a full monk is known as a bhikkhu. The Sangha refers to the entire monastic community.

Theravada life

Theravada Buddhism emphasizes achieving self-liberation through self-effort. Meditation and concentration are vital elements on the path to enlightenment. The ideal path is to devote yourself to the monastic life full-time. A follower must “abstain from all kinds of evil, collect all that is good, and purify his mind.” Meditation is one of the main tools by which a Theravada Buddhist transforms, so the monk spends a lot of time meditating. When a person attains liberation, he is called a “good person”—an Arhat or an Arahat. Despite its monastic emphasis, Theravada Buddhism has a substantial role and place for lay followers.

Theravada meditation

There are two types of meditation in the Theravada tradition:

• (i) Samatha: Soothing meditation,
• (ii) Vipassana: insight meditation.

(i) Samatha: Soothing meditation

Samatha is the oldest form of meditation and is not limited to Buddhism. It calms the mind and transports the user to higher Jhanic states. Jhanic states are difficult to simply define; states of consciousness are perhaps the most accessible explanation. Samatha meditation has only temporary results.

(ii) Vipassana: insight meditation

The vipassana meditation method is used to gain insight into the true nature of things. This is extremely difficult to obtain because people are used to seeing things through the lens of their ideas, opinions, and past experiences. The goal is a complete shift in how we experience and interpret the universe, and unlike Samatha, which produces temporary change, Vipassana produces permanent change.

The Theravada Abhidhamma

Theravada Abhidhamma is a scientific systematization of the Theravada school of thought about the highest Buddhist teachings (Abhidhamma). The Buddha is said to have given this teaching, but contemporary researchers date the Abhidhamma Pitaka writings to the third century BC.

Traditional Theravada is considered Vibhajjavada, reflecting the analytical process used by the Buddha and early Buddhists to examine the nature of people and other phenomena.

Abhidhamma literature has several textual levels. The Pali Canon contains the oldest Abhidhamma works. Then there are the exegetical writings written in Sri Lanka in the fifth century. Later, partial commentaries were also created in later historical periods.

Literature

Theravada accepts only the Pali Tipitaka as its script. There are a large number of other sutras that the Mahayana venerates and which Theravada does not accept as legitimate.

Pali versus Sanskrit

Theravada Buddhism uses Pali rather than the Sanskrit form of common terms. For example, sutta instead of sutra, and dhamma instead of dharma.

Sacred symbols

Theravada uses few symbols in contrast to many other schools of Buddhism, some of which make great use of icons and other sacred objects. Theravadin altars often bear flowers. Sometimes the symbol for the triple gem of Buddha, dhamma (teaching), and sangha (community) is present.

Stupas, sacred mounds originally designed to hold relics of the Buddha, dot the landscape in many Theravada lands. Various icons and statues are found throughout Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), and other Buddhist sites. In Afghanistan, the Taliban destroyed many stone Buddhas.

Conclusion

Theravada Buddhism, often known as the “Teachings of the Elders,” is considered the oldest form of Buddhism. Theravada adheres to the idea of ​​Vibhajjavada, which means “analytic instruction”. For more than a millennium, the Theravadins, the devout school, preserved their interpretation of the teachings of Gautama Buddha, or Buddha Dhamma, in the Pali canon. Theravada is also one of the two primary schools of Buddhism, the other being Mahayana.

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