Theravada-WPS Officemyra

Theravada
Buddhism
World religion and belief
system
01 Theravada Buddhism
02 Sacred scripture
03 Beliefs and doctrines

Theravada
Theravada
Buddhism 04
Buddhism Worship and observances
05 Subdivision
PART 01
WHAT IS
THERAVADA BUDDHISM ?
THERAVADA BUDDHISM
 Theravada Buddhism is originated in India.
■Theravada (Pali: thera "elders" + vada (word,
doctrine") , the "Doctrine of the Elders,"
 Predominant religion of Sri Lanka
■ The oldest record of the Buddha's teachings

 150 Million adherents.
 followed by Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka
 Major branch of the religion

 Theravada("School of elder monk") or ("School of the
ancients") or ("Southern School of Buddhism")
 sometimes known as the "Southern Buddhism"

Historical Background
 Exist for over 2,500years
 Siddhartha Gautama
• Theravada Buddhism is a major Buddhist
sect that adheres to the original practice
and doctrines preached.
Life of buddha
 SiddharthaGautama
 Born between 563 B.C.E. to 480 B.C.E.
 INTO THE SAKYA TRIBE IN LUMBINI
NEAR THE TOWN OF KAPILAVATU.
 BORN INTO THE KSHATRIYA CASTE
 Suddhodana. (FATHER)
• An aristocratic Hindu chieftain
 Mahamaya (MOTHER)
• A koliyan princess
 Family name GAUTAMA or GOTAMA

 Siddhartha means "HE WHO ACHIEVES HIS AIM"
 Buddha means" THE AWAKENED ONE" or
"ENLIGHTENED ONE"
 Siddhartha was given noble education and instruction
in science, horsemanship, and archery
 Siddhartha spent 29 years as a prince in kapilavastu
The four encounters ("four sign")
1. A man bent with old age

2. A person afflicted with sickness,
3. A corpse, and
4. A wandering ascetic.
PART
02
SACRED SCRIPTURE
 The Pāli Canon is the standard
collection of scriptures.
 Pāli Canon or the Tipitaka

/tripitaka ("three baskets").
• as preserved in the Pāli

language.
 Siddhartha's death or prinirvana ("first
Buddhist Council")
 The content of his teachings or
dhamma/dharma.
The three pitakas are as follows:

(Sutra/Sayings Basket), discourses and
 Sutta pitaka sermons of Buddha, some religious poetry
(Discourse) and is the largest basket
Five collections
 Digha Nikaya (collection of long discourses.)
 Majjhima Nikaya (collection of Middle-length discourses)
 Samyutta Nikaya (collection of kindred Sayings)
 Anguttara Nikaya (collection of discourses arrangedin
accordance with number
 Khuddaka Nikaya (Smaller Collection)
 Vinaya Piṭaka
(Discipline)
• ("Discipline Basket"), dealing with
rules or discipline of the sangha;
• Disciplinary code required of Buddhist
monks (bhikkhus) and nuns (bhikkhunis)
Five Books
Parijika pali ( major offence)
Pacittiya pali ( minor offence)
Mahavagga pali (greater section)
Cullavagga pali (Smaller section)
Parivara pali (epitome of the vinaya)
 Abhidhamma pitaka
(Ultimate Doctrine)
• Abhidhamma Piṭaka, treatises that elaborate

Buddhist doctrines, particularly about mind,
also called the "systematic philosophy"
basket.
Seven works
• Dhamma-Sangani (Enumeration of phenomena)
• Vibhanga (The book of the Treatises)
• Katha Vatthu (Point of Controversy)
• Puggala Pannatti (Description of individuals)
• Dhatu Katha (Discussion with reference to
elements)
• Yamaka ( The book of pairs)
• Patthana (The book of relations)
The Pāli Canon
THE THREE PITAKAS
PART 03
Beliefs,
doctrines
Beliefs
 Beliefs that soul or the Hindu atman does not exist as
people live in a state of nonsoulness or anatman/anatta.
 emphasises attaining self-liberation through one's own efforts.

Meditation and concentration are vital elements of the way to
enlightenment.
 believe that the path to nirvana lies in arhat, or becoming a

perfected being.
 Theravada Buddhist Beliefs About Merit
and Alms Giving
 Theravada Buddhist Beliefs About

Heaven, Hell and the Lives of the
Buddha
 Theravada Buddhist Beliefs About
Gender
The 5 mental or physical agreement or khandas
Physical form or corporeality

Feelings or sensation
Understanding or perception
Will or mental formation
Consciousness
The four noble Truths
the truth of suffering.

the truth of the cause of suffering.
the truth of the end of suffering.
the truth of the path that leads to the
end of suffering.
Moderation or THE "MIDDLE WAY" -
aimed at at ending suffering. Known as the
"NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH"
"Right" or samma
–it is divided into three aspects.
 Wisdom
 Morality
 Meditation
EIGHTFOLD What One Must Do
PATH
• Right View –Understand the "four
noble Truths".
• Right Intention –Free one's sell from ill-
will,cruelty,and untruthfulness.
• Right Speech –Abstain from

untruthfulness,tale-
bearing,harsh language,and
• Right action –Abstain
vain talk.from
killing,stealing,and sexual
• Right livelihood – Earn a living in a way not
harmful to any living things
–Avoid evil thoughts and
• Right effort
overcome them, arouse good
thoughts and maintain them.
• Right mindfulness –Pay vigilant attention to
every state of the body,
feeling,and mind.
• Right concentration –concentrate on a single object so
as to induce certain special states of
consciousness in deep meditation.
 This school of Buddhism believes that it
has remained closest to the original
teachings of the Buddha. However, it does
not over emphasise the status of these
teachings in a fundamentalist way - they
are seen as tools to help people
understand the truth, and not as having
merit of their own.
 Theravada Buddhists believe that only
monks can immediately attain nirvana,
a state of perfect enlightenment,
whereas lay people can work towards
rebirth in a more preferable state after
this life.
Theravada Buddhism beliefs are
distinct from the other main
schools of Buddhism.
Theravada life
Meditation
Meditation is impossible for a person who lacks wisdom. Wisdom is impossible

for a person who does not meditate. A person who both meditates and possesses
wisdom is close to nibbana.
The Theravada tradition has two forms of meditation.
Samatha: Calming meditation

 Vipassana: Insight meditation
Samatha
 This is the earliest form of meditation, and is not

unique to Buddhism. It's used to make the mind
calmer and take the person to higher jhanic states.
(Jhanic states are hard to explain simply: 'states of
consciousness' is probably the closest easily
understandable definition.) The effects of Samatha
meditation are temporary.
Vipassana
This form of meditation is used to achieve insight into the true nature of
things. This is very difficult to get because human beings are used to
seeing things distorted by their preconceptions, opinions, and past
experiences.
 The aim is a complete change of the way we perceive and understand

the universe, and unlike the temporary changes brought about b
Samatha, the aim of Vipassana is permanent change.
Worship and observances
Attainment of salvation for any Buddhist – is by way
of one's own action without the assistance of any
supreme or supernatural being.
Stupas are commemorative monuments that contained

sacred relics associated with Siddhartha himself. In Tibet
the stupa was transformed into a chorten and in the
Southeast and East Asia called Pagoo.
Temple – a building that allows many people to come
together to learn, meditate, celebrate and offer devotion. A
temple will contain a shrine and space for community
activities.
Vihara – a monastery for monks or nuns who have decided
to devote themselves to the Buddhist path. Members of the
wider community support the vihara and earn positive
karma. The vihara in return supports the members of the
community in their spiritual growth.
Shrine – the site of a statue or image of the Buddha, either
within a temple or vihara, or alone.
Stupas – a burial mound built to house relics of the Buddha or
another important Buddhist teacher. People often walk around
them while chanting to aid concentration.
Meditation hall – meditation is one of the most important aspects of

Buddhism. It is essential for growing one’s understanding and
developing a calm, Buddha-like mind. Whether at a temple or
vihara, Buddhists require large spaces dedicated to calm and
concentration.
Uposatha is observed about once a week in Theravada countries in

accordance with the four lunar phases: the new moon, the full
moon, and the two quarter moons in between
Bodh Gaya, a religious site where
Buddhist monks seek enlightenment
SUBDIVISION
S
The subdivision of Theravada that existed during the
early history of Sri Lanka can be traced from the
three monasteries of Mahavihara, Abhayagirivihara
and Jetavana Mahavihara or "Great monastery" of
Anuradhapura was founded by King Devanampiya
Tissa who ruled between 307 B.C.E to 267 B.C.E.
Abhayagiri Dagaba was the King Mahesena who
ruled 277 B.C.E and 304 C.E.
WAR and
VIOLENCE
The subdivision Theravada that
existed three Mahavihara,
Abhayagirivihara Jetavana
Mahavihara Devanampiya
between 307 B.C.E C.E.
WOMEN in
BUDDHISM
•Siddhartha slowed woman to participate in
the
sangha although there were some stipulations.

•Woman's principle was to become a faithful
and devoted housewives subject to the whims
or husbands.
Thank you
for listening

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Theravada

03 Beliefs and doctrines

 Predominant religion of Sri Lanka

■ The oldest record of the Buddha's teachings

 Major branch of the religion

 sometimes known as the "Southern Buddhism"

 Family name GAUTAMA or GOTAMA

1. A man bent with old age

 Pāli Canon or the Tipitaka

• as preserved in the Pāli

The three pitakas are as follows:

• Abhidhamma Piṭaka, treatises that elaborate

 emphasises attaining self-liberation through one's own efforts.

 believe that the path to nirvana lies in arhat, or becoming a

 Theravada Buddhist Beliefs About

Physical form or corporeality

the truth of suffering.

• Right Speech –Abstain from

Meditation is impossible for a person who lacks wisdom. Wisdom is impossible

The Theravada tradition has two forms of meditation.

Samatha: Calming meditation

 This is the earliest form of meditation, and is not

 The aim is a complete change of the way we perceive and understand

Stupas are commemorative monuments that contained

Meditation hall – meditation is one of the most important aspects of

Uposatha is observed about once a week in Theravada countries in

sangha although there were some stipulations.

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