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Theravada

Theravada

9.5
A traditional school of Buddhism that teaches individual practice to reach nirvana and is common in Thailand and Sri Lanka
  • noun
  • /ˌtɛrəˈvɑːdə/
translation icon : teravada
  • As a follower of Theravada, he dedicated much of his life to meditation and self-discipline.
  • Theravada Buddhist

Examples

  • The teachings of Theravada emphasize strict adherence to the Pali Canon.

  • Mohamed Yusoff Ismail, "Buddhism in a Muslim State: Theravada Practices and Religious Life in Kelantan," pp. 321-336.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Some of the officials who are ethnic Chinese have entered the Thai-Buddhist monkhood and consider themselves Theravada Buddhists.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Like most American Buddhists living outside large cities, I affiliate with whatever sangha is within driving distance; in my case, a lovely and welcoming Theravada group run by Sri Lankan monks.

    Blog text (7)
  • If if you convert to Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism and you grow irrigated wet rice in the Shawn Plateau, you will become Shawn.

  • The Buddhist nuns whose asceticism is accepted by most Theravada Buddhists follow the precepts, meditate, and do not become possessed.

    Academic text (1997)
  • In Thailand, many people practice Theravada Buddhism, which focuses on personal enlightenment.

Synonyms

Theravada Buddhism
vsTheravada
6.9

A branch of Buddhism that focuses on personal effort and the earliest Pali teachings

frames it as the more conservative main school compared with the other major school

Compounds

A branch of Buddhism that focuses on personal effort and the earliest Pali teachings

Surface Forms

Theravada singular
Theravadas plural

Etymology

Theravada comes from two old Pali parts: thera meaning 'elder' and vada meaning 'teaching' or 'way'. So Theravada is the 'way of the elders', which helps you remember that this school follows the older, careful teachings of Buddhism.