Theravada

Theravada, meaning "Teaching of the Elders," is one of the major branches of Buddhism. It presents itself as the oldest surviving school, tracing its lineage to early Buddhist councils and to the monastic Sangha that preserved the Buddha's original teachings. The tradition emphasizes a close adherence to the Pali Canon, known as the Tipitaka, which it regards as the authoritative scriptural collection.

The Theravada canon is organized into three baskets: the Vinaya, which governs monastic discipline; the Sutta Pitaka, a collection of discourses; and the Abhidhamma Pitaka, a systematic philosophical analysis. Core teachings include the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, and the practice of striving toward arahantship, the enlightened state of freedom from craving.

Practice in Theravada Buddhism commonly centers on ethical conduct, meditation, and the cultivation of wisdom. Meditation traditions emphasize mindfulness and concentration, with methods such as vipassana (insight) and samatha (calm abiding). Monastic communities, consisting of bhikkhus and bhikkhunis, play a central role in ritual life, education, and the preservation of texts.

Historically, Theravada grew in Sri Lanka and later spread to parts of Southeast Asia, becoming dominant in Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. Today, Theravada is practiced by millions across these regions and in diasporic communities worldwide, distinct from Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions.