Theravada

Theravāda

Theravāda. (Pāli, way of the elders). The only one of the early Buddhist schools of the Hīnayāna or ‘Small Vehicle’ to have survived down to modern times. Today, the Theravāda is the dominant tradition of Buddhism throughout most of south-east Asia, particularly Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. According to tradition, the school spread initially as the result of missionary activity after being brought to Sri Lanka by Mahinda, the son of Aśoka. The school claims its origins go back to the ancient body of the Elders (sthaviras) before the separation from the Mahāsaṃghikas, but there is no historical evidence to support this. There are close similarities, however, between the Theravāda and the ancient Vibhajyavādins who were declared by Aśoka to be the orthodox party at the Council of Pāṭaliputra II. The school is characterized by fidelity to the texts of the Pāli Canon, the earliest complete set of Buddhist scriptures preserved intact in a single canonical language. Its attitude to doctrine and its outlook on social issues is generally conservative, although in modern times monks have come forward to challenge traditional attitudes. See also Eighteen Schools of Early Buddhism.

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DAMIEN KEOWN. "Theravāda." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAMIEN KEOWN. "Theravāda." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-Theravda.html

DAMIEN KEOWN. "Theravāda." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-Theravda.html

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Theravāda

Theravāda (Pāli, ‘teaching of the elders (of the order)’; Chin., Shang-tso-pu; Jap., Jōzabu; Korean, Sangjwabu). An early school of Buddhism, derived from Vibhajjavādins and associated with Sthaviras. As the major survivor of this line, the term became synonymous with Buddhism derived from, and defensive of, the Pāli canon—in contrast to Mahāyāna. Theravāda is the form of Buddhism in Śri Lankā and SE Asia. Mahāyāna (‘Large Vehicle’) calls Theravāda ‘Hīnayāna’, ‘Small Vehicle’, and this term, despite its contemptuous associations, still persists. Theravāda, though strictly inaccurate, is preferable, even though Theravāda was simply one among many early Buddhist schools.

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JOHN BOWKER. "Theravāda." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Theravāda." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Theravda.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Theravāda." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Theravda.html

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Theravada

Theravada (‘Doctrine of the Elders’) Older of the two major schools of Buddhism. The doctrine originated early in the history of Buddhism as a contrast to Mahayana (‘greater vehicle’). Theravada Buddhism stresses that sorrow and suffering can be conquered only by the suppression of desire. Desire can be suppressed only if the individual realizes that everything is always in a state of flux and the only stable condition is nirvana, an indefinable state of rest. This type of Buddhism is widespread in Sri Lanka and se Asia.

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"Theravada." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Theravada

Theravada the more conservative of the two major traditions of Buddhism (the other being Mahayana), which developed from Hinayana Buddhism. It is practised mainly in Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Theravada." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Theravada." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Theravada.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Theravada." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Theravada.html

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Theravada

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