Theravada
Buddhism's oldest existing school, preserving the Pāli Canon.
Theravāda is the oldest surviving school of Buddhism, with its adherents, known as Theravādins, preserving their version of the Buddha’s teaching, or Dhamma, in the Pāli Canon for over two millennia. As of 2010, it is the second largest branch of Buddhism, representing 36% of Buddhists globally, compared to 53% for Mahāyāna. The Pāli Canon is the most complete Buddhist canon surviving in a classical Indian language, Pāli, which serves as the school’s sacred language and lingua franca. Theravāda tends to be conservative in matters of theoretical study and monastic discipline, notably rejecting the authenticity of the Mahayana sutras and generally not recognizing the existence of many Buddhas or bodhisattvas, such as Amitābha and Vairocana, as they are absent from its scriptures. However, the Pāli Canon’s Apadāna, a late addition, contains poetic passages mentioning “many Buddhas” and “buddhakhetta” (Buddha-fields). The school derives from the Indian Sthavira nikāya and developed significantly in India from the 3rd century BCE onward, particularly with the writing down of the Pāli Canon and the growth of its commentarial literature. From India and Sri Lanka, its principal center of development, Theravāda spread to Southeast Asia, becoming the dominant form of Buddhism there. It is the official religion of Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Cambodia, and the main dominant variant in Laos and Thailand, with minorities in India, Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia, as well as among diaspora and converts worldwide. Modern developments include Buddhist modernism, the Vipassana movement, the Thai Forest Tradition, and westward spread to places like India, Nepal, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
- label
- Theravāda
- type
- Buddhist school
- founded
- c. 3rd century BCE onward (as distinct tradition)
- sacred_language
- Pāli
- canon
- Pāli Canon
- percentage_of_Buddhists_(2010)
- 36%
- major_regions
- Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand
Lore & Background
Theravāda descends from the Vibhajjavāda, a division within the Sthāvira nikāya that arose after the first schism in the Indian Buddhist community. Theravāda sources trace their tradition to the Third Buddhist council, when elder Moggaliputta-Tissa compiled the Kathavatthu, laying out the Vibhajjavāda doctrinal position. Aided by Mauryan kings like Ashoka, this school spread throughout India and reached Sri Lanka through missionary monks like Mahinda. In Sri Lanka, it became known as the Tambapaṇṇiya (later Mahāvihāravāsins), based at the Great Vihara (Mahavihara) in Anuradhapura. By the first century BCE, Theravāda was well established in the Kingdom of Anuradhapura, and the Pāli Canon was committed to writing in that century.
Reader's Guide
Theravāda's significance lies in its claim to preserve the earliest recorded teachings of the Buddha in the Pāli Canon, the most complete Buddhist canon surviving in a classical Indian language. Its conservatism—rejecting the authenticity of Mahayana sutras and generally not recognizing many Buddhas or bodhisattvas—has shaped its distinct identity. The school's historical development saw it become the dominant religion in Sri Lanka and much of Southeast Asia, supported by monarchs who saw themselves as Dhamma Kings. In the modern era, Theravāda encountered Western ideologies, leading to Buddhist modernism, the Vipassana movement, and the Thai Forest Tradition. Its legacy includes a rich commentarial tradition, monastic discipline, and a global diaspora.
Did You Know?
- The Pāli term Theravāda translates to 'Doctrine of the Elders'.
- The Pāli Canon was committed to writing in the first century BCE.
- Theravāda rejects the authenticity of the Mahayana sutras, which appeared c. 1st century BCE onwards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Theravāda?
Theravāda is the oldest surviving school of Buddhism, tracing its lineage back to the Indian Sthavira nikāya. It has maintained its interpretation of the Buddha's teaching in the Pāli language for roughly two thousand years.
What is the Pāli Canon and why is it central to Theravāda?
The Pāli Canon is the collected scripture that Theravādins regard as the Buddha's own words, first written down starting in the 3rd century BCE. It serves as the foundational text for the school's doctrine, monastic rules, and meditation practice.
When and where did Theravāda develop as a distinct school?
The tradition crystallized in India from the 3rd century BCE onward, growing out of the earlier Sthavira nikāya community. Its identity solidified further through the composition of commentarial literature and the spread of monastic communities across South and Southeast Asia.
What language does Theravāda use for its scriptures and practice?
Pāli is the sacred language of the school, used for both the Pāli Canon and much of its later commentarial tradition. This distinguishes it from Mahāyāna schools, which rely more heavily on Sanskrit and later Chinese, Tibetan, or Japanese translations.
More in Buddhist Concepts And Schools 1-24
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