What is Theravada Buddhism Closest school of Buddhism
What is Theravada Buddhism? • Closest school of Buddhism to the Buddha • “Doctrine of the Elders” • Not as wide-spread as other schools
After the Death of the Buddha Ø Ø Ø Issue of Doctrine Meetings on a regular basis Problems in the Sangha Counsels Second Counsel to solve the problem Division over the Sutras
Ø One wanted to keep as is Ø And the other wanted to include more literature Ø Leads to two factions Ø Theravada (as is) Ø Mahayana (More stuff)
Character of Theravada Buddhism 1. Strict 2. More Conservative 3. Individualistic 4. Non-Intrusive 5. Contains Many Hindu Beliefs 6. Wisdom is the main objective
Pali Cannon Ø Collection of the oldest know Buddhist texts Ø Is the doctrinal core of the Theravada Ø Has been known to add pieces if considered to be relevant
Ø Worship the Buddha Ø Not as a God Ø Seen as a sage and a normal man Ø Look to his teachings with reverence
Where? Where do you think Theravada Buddhism is Present?
Where is it Practiced?
Where? ØSri Lanka ØIndia ØLaos ØCambodia ØJava ØMyanmar ØThailand ØBangladesh ØMalaysia ØSingapore
Theravada Ø Ashoka emperor of India ØSupporter of the Theravada ØExpelled Monks from Sangha Ø Sent his son and daughter to Sri Lanka ØSaid to be mythical beings ØLegitimizing the expansion
Ø After Ashoka Buddhism was practically wiped out of India ØSri Lanka was now the head of the Sangha ØChristian priests tried to push out Buddhism ØBut failed
ØTheravada School of Buddhism still thrives today
*** Bodh Gaya
Ø The most sacred in Buddhism ØAshoka Built the temple 250 years after Buddha ØThis is were Buddha gave his first teaching ØNext to the temple is a Bohdi tree ØThe tree is a sapling of the original
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