Theravada Buddhism Flashcards
What countries is Theravadan Buddhism strongest in?
Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Loas and Myanmar
What does the name mean?
‘The doctrine of the elders’ who are the senior Buddhist monks.
Does the school believe they are close to original teachings of Buddha?
This school of Buddhism believes that it has remained closest to the original teachings of the Buddha
What are their main beliefs about the Buddha?
-He was a man and a human being
-He had special characteristics like 32 marks of existence and his birth
-He is a very rare occurrence and doesn’t mean any enlightened person but one who has achieved enlightenment and taught others
-Buddha is dead, tradition gives them everything they need to know
Main beliefs about God and Gods?
-Buddha is not a God, they say there is no proof of a personal all-loving God existing as of suffering
-Do believe in gods which are seen as limited beings and may help with problems.
-Gods are a life form in samsara
What are their main beliefs about Self-reliance?
-Everyone is responsible for their own life
-Buddha have a map to nirvana but we must get there ourselves
-Total dedication is needed to achieve state of arhat
What are their main beliefs about Religious ritual?
-Not the same as ritual in other religions, its seen as honouring a great man and his teachings
-Prayers and offerings can be given to the Gods in return for favours
-Rituals are seen as appropriate for lay rather than monastic Buddhists
Main beliefs in Theravada Buddhism about philsophy, abhidamma /higher dharma
-Theravada philosophy teaches that one should observe the universe as a series of dhammas constantly leading dynamically from one to the next
-Observing dharmas help destroy our illusions
-There are 171 dharmas such as 89 different states of consciousness, 28 material qualities, 5 types if sensation
What are their main beliefs of scriptures?
-Known as the Pali Canon
-They are divided into three sections: vinaya(rules monastic), Sutta (sermons of Buddha), Abhidhamma (writings)
What are the three sections of the Pali Canon?
1) Vinaya (monastic rules)
2)Sutta (sermon)
3)Abhidamma (teachings/writing)
What is the Vinaya Pitaka?
-Rules for the conduct of the order for monastic
-227 rules for monks dealing with 8 classes of offences
-311 rules for nuns which are similar but stricter with 8 important rules
What are the eight important rules that Nuns follow?
1)Respect as a senior any monk no matter how young
2) To keep the rains retreat only where monks are present
3)To wait for the monks to appoint the uposatha day and preach the patimokka sermon
4)The ceremony at the end of the retreat can only be undertaken in the presence of monks
5)Penance for lesser offences must be given by both orders
6)Full ordination can only be given by the presence of monks and nuns
7)No nun can criticise a monk
8)No nun can officially admonish a monk
What is the Sutta Pitaka?
- Sermons and teachings of the Buddha and a few various disciples. Divided into 5 sections
- A) Digha Nikaya
B) Majjhima Nikaya
C) Samyutta Nikaya
D) Anguttara Nikaya
E) Khuddaka Nikaya
What is the Abhidhamma Pitaka?
-A philosophical treatment of the Dharma, NOT BUDDHAS WORD
-Mean ‘higher teaching’, usually for advanced monks
-Considered to be composed at the Third Council in the 3rd century
