Theravada
Theravada Buddhism is one of the oldest schools of Buddhism, often referred to as "the doctrine of the elders," and relies primarily on the Tipitaka texts as its central canon. These texts are considered the oldest surviving records of the teachings of Gautama Buddha, who laid the groundwork for Buddhist philosophy. Predominantly practiced in countries like Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, Theravada is sometimes called Southern Buddhism and has an estimated following of over one hundred million adherents worldwide, including a growing presence in Western nations.
Central to Theravada beliefs are the principles of sila (moral conduct), samadhi (mental development through meditation), and prajna (wisdom). Practitioners also adhere to the Four Noble Truths, the Five Precepts, and the Eightfold Path, which provide a framework for understanding suffering and achieving enlightenment. Unlike many other religions, Theravada does not focus on a creator deity; instead, it emphasizes individual responsibility and the pursuit of personal enlightenment through self-directed practices.
Monastic life in Theravada Buddhism is characterized by strict adherence to rules and a lifestyle aimed at fostering spiritual growth, while secular followers are encouraged to engage in meditation and mindful living. The Tipitaka texts, originally transmitted orally and later written in Pali, are divided into three main categories: the Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, and Abhidhamma Pitaka, each serving different purposes in the community’s spiritual and ethical framework.
Theravada
Theravada Buddhism is a school of Buddhism that uses the Tipitaka texts as its principal canon. There is a general consensus among scholars that the Tipitaka texts contain the oldest surviving records of the teachings of Gautama Buddha, the enlightened sage whose work formed the foundations of Buddhist philosophy. Theravada translates as "the doctrine of the elders."
Because many of its adherents live in Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, Theravada Buddhism is sometimes referred to as Southern Buddhism. Estimates suggest that the philosophy has over one hundred million adherents worldwide and has spread beyond its traditional South Asian roots into Western society, including Australia, the United States, and Europe.
Beliefs of Theravada Buddhists
From a general standpoint, Theravada Buddhists adhere to the core beliefs of the Buddhist philosophical system, including sila, samadhi, and prajna. Sila is the concept of virtuous moral conduct and includes the principles that all living things are equal and that a person ought to treat others as they would like to be treated. Samadhi prioritizes the importance of mental development through concentration and meditation. Prajna plays a central role in Buddhist doctrine, emphasizing that wisdom and enlightenment will come to those with purity and calmness of mind.
In addition to these core beliefs, Theravada Buddhists also subscribe to the Four Noble Truths, the Five Precepts, and the Eightfold Path of Buddhism. The Four Noble Truths include dukkha, samudaya, nirodha, and magga. Dukkha is the idea that suffering is a universal aspect of life, while samudaya posits that there is a reason suffering exists. Nirodha holds that suffering can be brought to an end, and magga identifies the Eightfold Path as the way to end suffering. Buddhism's Five Precepts outline a moral code by which to live and state that a Buddhist must not kill or cause injury, steal, lie, abuse sexuality, or consume mind-altering substances such as drugs and alcohol.
Buddhism's Eightfold Path begins with samma ditthi, or a full understanding of the Four Noble Truths. The principle of samma sankappa commits the Buddhist to following the Eightfold Path, and the concepts of samma vaca, samma kammanta, and samma ajiva reinforce the importance of living a moral, virtuous, and self-sufficient life. Finally, samma vayama, samma sati, and samma samadhi map out a course for enlightenment through the power of positive thinking, self-awareness, and meditation.
Unlike most major world religions, the Buddhist worldview is not centered on an omnipotent creator of divine origin. Godlike beings do exist in Buddhism, but they are viewed as spirits who have obtained an elite level of enlightenment rather than powerful entities capable of intervening in human affairs or saving individual believers. For Buddhists, it is incumbent upon the individual to find their own path to enlightenment; there is no rigid or divinely dictated route to follow. The principles of Buddhism are seen more as guidelines than inflexible rules and do not hold the same fundamentalist status as the Christian Bible, Islamic Qur'an, or Jewish Torah.
The Tipitaka Texts
The Tipitaka texts are widely accepted as the oldest surviving records of the original teachings of Gautama Buddha. Initially passed down orally from generation to generation, the Tipitaka texts were put in writing following a decree from the Fourth Buddhist Council in 29 Before the Common Era (BCE), meaning that they were formalized approximately four and a half centuries after the death of Gautama Buddha. The Tipitaka texts were originally written in Pali, a spoken language, using the Sinhala alphabet (as Pali did not have an alphabet of its own). For this reason, the texts are sometimes referred to as the Pali Canon. While the Tipitaka texts have since been translated into dozens of languages, strict Theravada Buddhist adherents typically learn Pali, claiming that the full meaning and subtleties of the text are lost in translated versions.
Scholars frequently characterize the Tipitaka texts as falling into three major categories, or pitaka: the Vinaya Pitaka, the Sutta Pitaka, and the Abhidhamma Pitaka. The Vinaya Pitaka outlines regulations and standards for Buddhist monks and nuns, while the Sutta Pitaka is a collection of anecdotes and sayings attributed to Gautama Buddha and his original followers. Finally, the Abhidhamma Pitaka explains the cosmological and philosophical Buddhist belief system in detail. Of these three pitaka, only the Abhidhamma Pitaka differs significantly from the central works of other Buddhist schools.
Monastic and Secular Life
Theravada Buddhist monks and nuns must adhere to strict lifestyle limitations and observances that they believe help them maintain their focus on the path to enlightenment. Individuals who are preparing to become monks or nuns follow an abstemious diet; avoid dancing, music, and singing; eschew fashion and adornment; and do not sit in high seats of power or accept financial gifts. When formally entering monastic life, Theravada Buddhist monks commit themselves to following a total of 227 specific rules; there are more rules for nuns. Members of the sangha, or monastic community, do not eat after noon and do not handle money or financial instruments.
For secular adherents, Theravada Buddhism focuses on the importance of self-guided efforts toward achieving enlightenment. Mental concentration and regular meditation are seen as key vehicles through which one can achieve a positive state of mind. While Buddhism is not as rigid in its principles as most religious systems, Theravada Buddhist followers are expected to avoid impurity of both mind and body as well as reject all forms of vice and excess.
Bibliography
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"The Origin of the Pali Canon." Pali Canon Online, www.palicanon.org. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
“Theravada Buddhism.” Bhavana Society, bhavanasociety.org/about/theravada-buddhism/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
"Theravada Buddhism." BBC, 2 Oct. 2002, www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/subdivisions/theravada‗1.shtml. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
"What Is Theravada Buddhism?" Buddhanet, www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/whats-thera.htm. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.