Theravada Buddhism Historical Background: Founder

THERAVADA BUDDHISM
*HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Around 100 BCE Originated from a schisms group that began in India around 100
BCEBecame prominent in Sri Lanka and Southeast AsiaAlso known as Southern
BuddhismEstimated current followers = 124,000,000Often labeled the “Hinayana” or
“Lesser Vehicle”Theravada claims to trace their lineage to the original followers of the
BuddhaTheravada Buddhism, or also noted as the "Doctrine of the Elders," is one of three
areas of Buddhism.It was made from of a group schism’s group that started in 100 BCE in
India and also turned outstanding in Sri Lanka and south east Asia including Myanmar,
Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, that is why sometimes it is indicating as Buddhism of the
South.There are recently figured to be 124,000,000 followers.“Often marked the "Hinayana"
or (the "Lesser Vehicle") by Mahayana Buddhism, Theravada schools arrogate to adhere
most precisely to the original exercises and doctrines which is taught by Buddha. The
Theravada arrogate to trace their ancestry back to the real followers of the Buddha, to
those who actually heard his dialogue themselves in person.
*FOUNDER
Siddhartha Gautama
*SACRED SCRIPTURES
collections of the teachings of Buddha.

Tipitaka, meaning “three baskets.” The writings were divided into three books written in
Pali in the 4th century BCE. It’s goal is to escape samsara and enter nirvana.
1.Vinaya- which talks about the procedural rules for monastic life such as the rules for
begging, eating, the relations with monks and nonmonks, and other disciplines.
2.Suttra (also known as Sutra in Sanskrit), which contains the Buddha’s teachings in the
form of dialogues.
3.Abhidarma, which stands for “the works that go beyond the elementary teachings.”
*WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
Vinaya Pitaka (the code for monastic life)

-These rules are followed by Buddhist monks and nuns, who recite the 227 rules twice a
month.
Sutta Pitaka (teachings of the Buddha)-this contains the whole of Buddhist philosophy and
ethics. It includes the Dhammapada which contains the essence of Buddha's teaching.
Abhidamma Pitaka (supplementary philosophy and religious teaching)- the texts have
remained unaltered since they were written down. Buddhist monks in the Theravada
tradition consider it important to learn sections of these texts by heart.
*SUBDIVISIONS
3 monasteries of Mahavihara, Abhayagirivihara and Jetavana Mahavihara or “Great monastery” of
Anuradhapura.
*SELECTED PRESENT ISSUES
Recent attacks on Muslim mosques instigated by certain Buddhist groups( members of which include
Buddhist monks)as well as the post-independence orientation of the Sangha in general, aside from
admirable exceptions, against the Tamil community in Sri Lanka raise serious questions about the
theory and practice of Theravada Buddhism in the country.
*Early Religious Plurality
MAHAYANA BUDDHISM
*HISTORICAL BUDDHISM
It appeared sometime between 150 BCE and 100 CE in India and quickly spread throughout
Asia. It came about with the introduction of new sutras, or authoritative teachings of the
Buddha. These teachings drew on but modified earlier Buddhist thought. Mahayana
Buddhism, also known as the Great Vehicle, is the form of Buddhism prominent in North
Asia, including China, Mongolia, Tibet, Korea, and Japan. Arising out of schisms—about both
doctrine and monastic rules—within Indian Buddhism in the first century C.E., the Great
Vehicle considers itself a more authentic version of the Buddha's teachings. The Mahayana
accepts the canonical texts of the Theravada tradition (what they derisively call the
Hinayana, or "lesser vehicle), but also have a vast corpus of philosophical and devotional
texts. The most distinctive teaching of the Mahayana is that the great compassion that is an
inherent component of enlightenment is manifest in bodhisattvas (enlightenment beings);
these beings postpone nirvana (final enlightenment) in order to assist and guide those
beings still suffering in the cycle of rebirths. They employ what the Mahayana calls "skillful
means," which is the ability to know the particular mental and emotional capacity of each
individual, and to deliver guidance appropriate to those capacities. The Mahayana
developed a vast pantheon of bodhisattvas, Buddhas, and other powerful beings, and an
complex array of devotional and meditational practices directed toward them. As the
Mahayana moved beyond India, it took typically adopted distinct local cultural
characteristics; thus the Mahayana pantheon in China is significantly different than that
found in India, or that in Japan.
*FOUNDER
Nagarjuna
*SACRED SCRIPTURES
Tripitaka - written in Sanskrit in the first century BCE. The Mahayana works were called
sutras because they claim to be the real words of the Buddha, but in reality they were
imaginative, colourful creations written centuries after the Buddha lived.
Vimalakirti Sutra- teaches that it is possible to live a devout Buddhist life without becoming
a monk. It showed that individuals can work successfully amidst the dangers of worldly life,
can avoid causing harm, and can help themselves and others.
Pure Land Sutras-speak about a heavenly realm where humans can be reborn, and it is
established by the merciful Amitabha Buddha. Total trust in the Buddha is necessary for
rebirth. These sutras gave rise to the Pure Land Movement.
*WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
Temples
Buddhist temples come in many shapes. Perhaps the best known are the pagodas of China
and Japan.
Another typical Buddhist building is the Stupa, which is a stone structure built over what are
thought to be relics of the Buddha, or over copies of the Buddha's teachings.
Buddhist temples are designed to symbolise the five elements: Fire, Air, Earth, symbolised
by the square base, Water, Wisdom, symbolised by the pinnacle at the top.All Buddhist
temples contain an image or a statue of Buddha. Worshippers may sit on the floor barefoot
facing an image of Buddha and chanting. They will listen to monks chanting from religious
texts, perhaps accompanied by instruments, and take part in prayers.
Mantras- a word, a syllable, a phrase or a short prayer that is spoken once or repeated over
and over again (either aloud or in a person's head) and that is thought to have a profound
spiritual effect on the person. A very well -known mantra is the mantra of
Avalokiteshvara: om mani padme hum. This is sometimes said to mean "Behold! The jewel
in the lotus!", but this translation isn't much help - the phrase isn't really translatable
because of the richness of meaning and symbolism it contains.
Physical Prayer Aids
It's common to use prayer beads to mark the number of repetitions of a mantra. Mantras
may also be displayed on a prayer wheel and repeated by spinning the wheel, or written on
a prayer flag - in which case the prayer is repeated each time the flag moves in the wind.
Prayer wheels can be tiny things that a Buddhist carries with them or enormous objects up
to nine feet high found in monasteries. These physical prayer devices are very common in
Tibetan Buddhist communities.
Prajnaparamita Sutras known as “the sutras on the perfection of wisdom” is the earliest
Mahayana works. These sutras compared the ordinary understanding with the enlightened
understanding that everything in the universe is interpendent. It also known as the Heart
sutra.
Saddharma Pundarika Sutra also known as the Lotus Sutra, means the “lotus sutra of the
good law”. The Buddha shows his transcendent cosmic nature in this sutra. His light and
wisdom extent out to the universe
*SUBDIVISIONS
*SELECTED PRESENT ISSUES

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THERAVADA BUDDHISM

collections of the teachings of Buddha.

*WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES

Vinaya Pitaka (the code for monastic life)

*SELECTED PRESENT ISSUES

*WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES

*SELECTED PRESENT ISSUES

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