Theravada BuddhismTheravada Buddhism
"Way of the Elders" "Way of the Elders"
BackgroundBackground founded in Indiafounded in India predominant religion of predominant religion of
Sri LankaSri Lanka A conservative branch A conservative branch
of Buddhism that of Buddhism that adheres to Pali adheres to Pali scriptures and the scriptures and the nontheistic ideal of self-nontheistic ideal of self-purification to nirvana purification to nirvana
the oldest record of the the oldest record of the Buddha's teachingsBuddha's teachings
sometimes called sometimes called 'Southern Buddhism'.'Southern Buddhism'.
Sangha (a community of Buddhist monks) were the first to follow the original Buddha
The Pali scriptures are also called the Pali Canon or the Tripitaka (three baskets)
The absolute goal of Theravada is to find Nirvana which means enlightenment
After nirvana you will never be reborn
TheravadaTheravada
the term Theravada the term Theravada first arose in the first arose in the disputes which arose disputes which arose about a hundred years about a hundred years after the Buddha's after the Buddha's death.death.
a council of Buddhist a council of Buddhist monks was convened at monks was convened at the Mauryan capital of the Mauryan capital of Patna during 3 BC to Patna during 3 BC to purify the doctrine.. purify the doctrine..
Origins of Buddhist Scripture
• The most famous shrine in Buddhism is the Haein Temple.
• It is a library which contains over 80,000 wooden blocks that were originally used to copy Buddhist scripture.
• Five hundred years after the death of the Buddha, the Sangha decided to meet in order to define the teachings of Buddhism
• They ended up writing down what use to be oral tradition in the book they called the Tripitaka (“Tipitaka”)
The Tripitaka
• Tripitaka means 3 baskets, representing the 3 different books that make up the Tripitaka.
• It was originally called the Tripitaka because the stories were literally divided into 3 different baskets.
• Each basket “pitaka” has a separate theme.
The Three Baskets• Vinaya Pitaka, translated “Basket of
Discipline– the Buddha’s rules of discipline for
the monks and nuns
• 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
• Abhiddhamma Pitaka, translated “Basket of Metaphysics– last basket contains commentaries on
the teachings of the Buddha
Rituals and BeliefRituals and Belief
All boys enter monastery- a right of All boys enter monastery- a right of passagepassage
Wesa SpringWesa Spring Candles and incenseCandles and incense Rockets set offRockets set off Trees are decoratedTrees are decorated
Rituals and PracticesRituals and Practices
Theravada Buddhism has a great Theravada Buddhism has a great variety of rituals and practices to variety of rituals and practices to help in the journey to becoming help in the journey to becoming enlightened and to bring good enlightened and to bring good things upon oneself and upon things upon oneself and upon others. others.
One of the main practices is a One of the main practices is a meditation. Meditation is nearly meditation. Meditation is nearly essential to all forms of Buddhism. essential to all forms of Buddhism.
Continued …Continued …Other rituals would be the use of Other rituals would be the use of Mudras (symbolic gestures). These Mudras (symbolic gestures). These gestures are used symbolically in gestures are used symbolically in images of Buddha. They are used images of Buddha. They are used in practice to induce specific ideas in practice to induce specific ideas in the mind during time of in the mind during time of Buddhist meditation or sometimes Buddhist meditation or sometimes in ritual.in ritual.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V35UUVs5t60
This video teaches us the ways of the Buddhist monks to the people to the celebration. You really find yourself embracing the culture as well as the people.
Steps to becoming an ArhatSteps to becoming an Arhat1. 1. SotapannaSotapanna ("stream-enterer"), which is a process where you ("stream-enterer"), which is a process where you convert by completely overcoming false beliefs. convert by completely overcoming false beliefs.
2. 2. SakadagaminSakadagamin ("once-returner") which is the symbolic ("once-returner") which is the symbolic process of being reborn again, attained by diminishing lust, process of being reborn again, attained by diminishing lust,
3. Anagamin3. Anagamin ("never-returner"), which means one who will be ("never-returner"), which means one who will be reincarnated in heaven. In this stage you become an Arhat. reincarnated in heaven. In this stage you become an Arhat.
4. 4. ArhatArhat ("worthy one"), one who has attained full ("worthy one"), one who has attained full enlightenment.during life (“saint”)enlightenment.during life (“saint”)
