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Theravada Buddhism

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Theravada Buddhism Way of the Elders Sometimes referred to as the Lesser Vehicle: smaller in number than Mahayana Theravada The term Theravada first arose ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Theravada Buddhism


1
Theravada Buddhism
  • Way of the Elders
  • Sometimes referred to as the Lesser Vehicle
    smaller in number than Mahayana

2
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..

3
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

4
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5
Purpose of Life
  • 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
  • Sotapanna "stream-enterer" - a convert,
    attained by overcoming false beliefs
  • Sakadagamin "once-returner" - one who will only
    be reborn once more, attained by diminishing
    lust, hatred and illusion
  • Anagamin "never-returner" - one who will be
    reborn in universal consciousness, after which he
    or she will become an arhat
  • Arhat "worthy one" - one who has attained
    perfect enlightenment and will never be reborn

6
Sacred Scripture
  • Pali- Oral Tradition
  • Tripitaka- Three Baskets
  • Vinaya Pitaka- Basket of Discipline
  • Sutta Pitaka- Basket of Discourse
  • Abhidhamma Pitaka- Basket of Metaphysics
  • Post-canonical texts
  • http//www.youtube.com/watch?v0zzBUulmUiQ

7
Tripitaka
  • The first basket was known as the Vinaya Pitaka,
    translated Basket of Discipline
  • the Buddhas 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 womens sacred poetry
  • The final basket is the Abhiddhamma Pitaka,
    translated Basket of Metaphysics
  • last basket contains commentaries on the
    teachings of the Buddha

8
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

9
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
10
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.
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