Theravada

Buddhism
Buddhism is one of the most practical among
the world’s great religions because its belief
system intends to meet basic human needs
and solve humankind’s spiritual problem
without depending on supernatural forces
(Brown 1975). The two main divisions of the
religion are Mahayana Buddhism and
Theravada Buddhism. Mahayana
Buddhism is practiced in China, Japan, and
Mongolia.
Meanwhile, Theravada Buddhism, with 150
million adherent Buddhism is the religion of
around 500 million people or about 7% to
8% of the world’s populations, is followed in
Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.
Buddhist majority in terms of population
include Cambodia (97%), Thailand (93%),
Myanmar (80%), Bhutan (75%), Sri Lanka
(69%), and Laos (66%).
 Life of the Buddha
The sage Siddhartha Gautama may have been
born between 563 B.C.E. to 480 B.C.E. into the
Sakya tribe in Lumbini (in present-day Nepal)
near the town of Kapilavastu (the capital city of
the Sakya state) in the foothills of the Nepalese
Himalayas (Kulananda 2001). Born into the
Kshatriya caste, his father was Suddhodana, an
aristocratic Hindu chieftain, and his mother was
Mahamaya, a Koliyan princess.
The name ‘Siddhartha’
means “he who achieves his
aim.”
The word “Buddha” means
“the awakened one” or the
“enlightened one.”
 SACRED SCRIPTURES
The word pitaka translates as “basket” referring to the receptacles
where the palm leaf manuscripts were stored by the monks. The
three baskets (tipitaka/tripitaka) and their contents are summarized
in
Tipitika
 Sutta Pitaka (Discourse) Buddha’s doctrinal discourses; short
poems to long prose narratives about Siddhartha’s previous lives
 Vinaya Pitaka (Discipline) Rules of discipline; stories that illustrate
Buddhist moral principles
 Abhidhamma Pitaka (Ultimate Doctrine) Systematic analysis of
the categories of Buddhist thought
 Beliefs and Doctrines
 Buddhism is the belief that soul or the Hindu atman
does not exist as people live in a state of
nonsoulness or anatman/ anatta. Buddhism does
not preach that humans have an eternal and
indestructible soul (Brown 1975). Nothing is
permanent in this world, hence, all things change
and are impermanent. The mark of impermanence
or anitya/anicca states that all conditioned things
are transitory and passing; they all have beginning
and end to their existence (Skilton 1994).
Four Noble Truths The teachings
of Siddhartha include discourses
on the basic tenets of Buddhism,
such as the “Four Noble Truths”
and the “Noble Eightfold Path.”
(1) The First Noble Truth. This identifies the origin
of the problem— the dukkha. Suffering can be
experienced throughout the different stages of
a person’s life—from birth, sickness, old age, to
ultimate death. When one clings to one of the
previously stated aggregates, this leads to
suffering. When one unites with the unpleasant,
it causes suffering. When one dissociates from
the pleasant, it also results in suffering.
 (2)The Second Noble Truth. This explains the cause of
suffering or the samodaya – in craving or desire (or tanha),
in the perpetual thirst of humans to consume things,
experiences, or ideas (Parrinder 1971). People are never
satisfied as they always want more or something else,
want something new, or just want to discontinue
something. People crave for existence or non-existence
and seek sensual pleasures. People search for self-
satisfaction from things they believe they can experience.
However, since the nature of all these things is
impermanent, people become attached to these things
due to ignorance that leads to desire and eventual
suffering (Brown 1975).
(3) The Third Noble Truth. This asserts that
there is a cessation or nirodha to
suffering and bondage by eliminating
craving and desire. By dropping the
bonds of craving, one gets to be
released from the fundamental nature of
reality.
 (4)The Fourth Noble Truth. This directs an individual to the
path or magga leading to the termination of craving and
desire, and to eventual cessation of pain. Likewise, one
must avoid self-indulgence and self-torture since both are
pointless. This is the path toward moderation or the “Middle
Way” aimed at ending suffering. Known as the “Noble
Eightfold Path” which is an entirely practical path—and
each described as “right” or samma — it is divided into
three aspects, namely, wisdom, morality, and meditation.
For path of wisdom, this includes Right View and Right
Intention. For path of morality, this includes Right Speech,
Right Action, and Right Livelihood. For path of meditation,
it consists of Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right
Concentration.
 Noble Eightfold Path
Eightfold Path What One Must Do Right View
Understand the “Four Noble Truths”
Right Intention Free one’s self from ill-will,
cruelty, and untruthfulness
Right Speech Abstain from untruthfulness, tale-
bearing, harsh language, and vain talk
Right Action Abstain from killing, stealing, and
sexual misconduct
 Right Livelihood Earn a living in a way not harmful
to any living thing
 Right Effort Avoid evil thoughts and 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
 Law of Dependent Origination
The Law of Dependent Origination or Paticca-
samuppada is one of the most insightful
teachings of Siddhartha. With everything built
upon a set of relations, it follows that every
effect has a definite cause and every cause
has a definite effect (Mizuno 1987). In short,
nothing comes into being by mere accident
and actions do not happen in a random way
 Impermanence of Things
Nothing in this world is fixed and
permanent and everything is subject to
change and alteration. Impermanence
is an unavoidable fact of human
existence. Buddhism affirms five
processes deemed uncontrollable by
any individual: old age, sickness, dying,
decay, and death
 The Sangha
The Pali word sangha literally means “sharer”
that refer to monks who share in the general
fund of alms provided by a community.
Translated as “association” or “assembly,”
sangha pertains to the Buddhist order and
monastic community as founded by Siddhartha
during the same year that he attained his
enlightenment. Ordained Buddhist monks are
called bhikkus while nuns are called bhikkunis.
 WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
In Buddhism, stupas are commemorative
monuments that contain sacred relics
associated with Siddhartha himself, and
the venerable monks and nuns. These
burial mounds predate Buddhism as
ancient Indian kings and heroes were
housed in stupas.
Magha Puja Day occurs during the full moon
of the third lunar month. It commemorates the
event where Siddhartha went to Rajgir to
meet and ordain the 1250 arhats in Venuvana
Monastery.
Meanwhile, Asalha Puja Day commemorates
Siddhartha’s first teaching (or the turning of
the wheel of the dharma) held near Benares.
During this time, the monk Kondanna reached
the first level of enlightenment.
Known as Vesakha or Vesak, it is also known
as “Buddha Purnima” or “Buddha Day.”
Vesak refers to the lunar month that falls in
May and “Vesak Day” is the holiest day for all
Buddhists. Celebrated with immense festivity,
Buddhists send out thoughts of affectionate
benevolence to the living and to the
departed ones. They also perform rituals at
stupas.
 Summary
• The fundamental teachings of Buddhism are closely
tied to the life of Siddhartha Gautama who was born
between 563 B.C.E. to 480 B.C.E. in Lumbini in the
foothills of the Nepalese Himalayas.
 • The Theravada sect is the school of Buddhism that
draw its scriptural inspiration from the Pali Canon or
Tipitaka/Tripitaka (“three baskets”).
 • The teachings of Siddhartha include discourses on
the “Four Noble Truths,” “Noble Eightfold Path,”
“Impermanence of Things,” and “Dependent
Origination.”
• The sangha pertains to the Buddhist order and
monastic community as founded by Siddhartha
during the same year that he attained his
enlightenment.
• Most Buddhist festivals are frequently happy
celebrations. Most Buddhist festivals are held to
commemorate important events in the life of
Siddhartha Gautama.
• The subdivisions of Theravada that existed during
the early history of Sri Lanka can be traced from the
three monasteries of Mahavihara, Abhayagiri vihara,
and Jetavana