Module 3.2: Theravada Buddhism Flashcards
the name for the school of Buddhism that takes its scriptural inspiration from the Pali Canon, or Tripitaka, which is generally acknowledged as the oldest record of the Buddha’s teachings.
Theravada
Where does the word Theravada come from?
from Pali words thera, meaning elders,
and veda, meaning ‘word’ or ‘doctrine’
Theravada is at times recognized as ___________ to distinguish it from Mahayana (the ‘Greater Vehicle’)
Himayana (the ‘Lesser Vehicle’)
Theravada is the leading religion of which countries?
- Sri Lanka
- Burma
- Thailand
Who is the founder of Theravada Buddhism?
Siddhartha Gautama
When and where was Siddhartha Gautama born?
Born in the sixth century B.C. in what is now modern Nepal.
He was the ruler of the Sakya people, and Siddhartha’s father. Siddhartha grew up living the extravagant life of a young prince.
Suddhodana
At what age did Siddharta Gautama marry?
16
Who did Siddhartha Gautama marry at 16?
Yasodhara
What age did Siddhartha Gautama leave his kingdom and newborn son to lead an ascetic life and identify a way to dismiss man’s suffering?
29
How long did Siddhartha Gautama practice various methods of meditation with different religious teachers?
6 years
A path of balance instead of extremism that Siddhartha Gautama encouraged people to follow.
“The Middle Way”
What age did Siddhartha Gautama reach enlightenment?
35
What title did Siddhartha Gautama earn at age 35?
the title “Buddha”, or “Enlightened One”
one of the many epithets for Siddhartha.
Buddha
What is Siddhartha commonly addressed as?
Bhagavat
What does Siddhartha refer to himself as?
the Thagata
- It is the earliest collection of Buddhist teachings and the only
acknowledged as canonical by Theravada Buddhism - It means “three baskets”
- “the text was written on a long narrow leaves, which were
sewn at the edges then grouped into bunches and stored in
baskets”
Tripitaka
- It is also called a Pali Canon
- It is a massive collection of writings, comprising up to 50
volumes. - Its contents were communicated orally then written down in
the third century B.C.E
Tripitaka