Transcript Theravada Buddhism

Theravada Buddhism
“Way of the Elders”
Sometimes referred to as the “Lesser Vehicle:” smaller in
number than Mahayana
Theravada
 The term Theravada
first arose in the
disputes which arose
about a hundred years
after the Buddha's
death.
 A council of Buddhist
monks was convened at
the Mauryan capital of
Patna during 3 BC to
purify the doctrine..
Background
 Founded in India
 Predominant religion of Sri
Lanka
 The oldest and most
conservative branch of
Buddhism that adheres to
Pali scriptures (the Pali
Canon) and the nontheistic
ideal of self-purification to
nirvana
 The oldest record of the
Buddha's teachings
 Dominant in southern Asia
The purpose of life for Theravadins is to
become an arhat, a perfected saint who has
achieved nirvana and will not be reborn again.
There are four stages to becoming an arhat:
1. Sotapanna "stream-enterer" - a convert,
attained by overcoming false beliefs
2. Sakadagamin "once-returner" - one who will
only be reborn once more, attained by
diminishing lust, hatred and illusion
3. Anagamin "never-returner" - one who will be
reborn in universal consciousness, after which
he or she will become an arhat
4. Arhat "worthy one" - one who has attained
perfect enlightenment and will never be reborn
Sacred Scripture
 Pali- Oral Tradition
 Tripitaka- “Three Baskets”
Vinaya Pitaka- Basket of
Discipline
 Sutta Pitaka- Basket of
Discourse
 Abhidhamma PitakaBasket of Metaphysics
 Post-canonical texts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zzB
UulmUiQ
Tripitaka
 The first basket was known as the Vinaya Pitaka,
translated “Basket of Discipline”
 the Buddha’s rules of discipline for the monks and nuns
 The second basket is known as the Sutta Pitaka,
translated “Basket of Discourse”
 the teaching of Buddha that include the necessities to
reach Nirvana
 the doctrine and practices of the Buddha
 the first songs of Buddhist nuns, which is the first
documents writings of women’s sacred poetry
 The final basket is the Abhiddhamma Pitaka, translated
“Basket of Metaphysics”
 last basket contains commentaries on the teachings of the
Buddha
Rituals and Belief
 Because the most desirable way of life is
to be a monk, all boys enter the
monastery- a right of passage
 Wesa Spring
Candles and incense
Rockets set off
Trees are decorated
Rituals and Beliefs
Theravada Buddhism is highly
ritualistic.
Purpose of ritual is to help in the
journey to becoming enlightened.
Another purpose is to bring good
things upon oneself and upon
others.
Central practice: meditation
Continued …
Other rituals would be the use of
Mudras (symbolic gestures). These
gestures are used symbolically in
images of Buddha. They are used
in practice to induce specific ideas
in the mind during time of
Buddhist meditation or sometimes
in ritual.