Theravda

Theravāda, often spelled Theravāda or Theravada, is one of the major branches of Buddhism. It translates to “Teaching of the Elders” and claims to preserve the Buddha’s original teachings as transmitted by the early Buddhist community. Theravāda regards itself as the oldest surviving school, tracing its lineage to the monastic order established by the Buddha and his early disciples.

The doctrinal core is the Pāli Canon, or Tipiṭaka, organized into three baskets: the Vinaya (monastic rules), the Sutta (discourses), and the Abhidhamma (philosophical analysis). Central aims include the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, and the attainment of arahantship through ethical conduct, concentration, and wisdom. Theravāda emphasizes individual effort and monastic discipline and generally does not accept the later Mahayana sutras as authoritative scriptures.

Originating in the Indian subcontinent, Theravāda became prominent in Sri Lanka by the 3rd century BCE and spread to mainland Southeast Asia over subsequent centuries. Today it is the dominant form of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, with communities in the Indian subcontinent, Vietnam, and the global diaspora.

Monastic sangha plays a central role in Theravāda practice, with lay communities supporting temples and monasteries through offerings. Common practices include study of the suttas, observance of moral precepts, and meditation, with Vipassana traditions and forest monasteries shaping contemporary practice in several countries.