Essay On An Overview Of The Theravada School Of Buddhism

Buddhism is a religion that began more than 2500 years ago in India, that was taught by a man known as the ‘the Buddha.’ The Buddha presented his teaching as a way to overcome suffering through personal efforts (Fisher 135). He emphasized that by understanding the way in which we cause our own suffering, we are able to liberate ourselves from the suffering that plagues us. This implies that the human being is fully responsible for the happiness in his life, or the absence of happiness. Buddha brought about the Dharma, which acted as core of the teachings which he sought to impart on his disciples (Fisher 135). Once he gathered some disciples, he sent them out on various missions to disseminate the teachings of the Dharma. The teachings of Buddha have grown into being considered masterpieces of philosophical wisdom and a religious guideline. Due to the spread of Buddhism into a vast array of lands, its adoption and interpretation varied from one land to another, which resulted in various forms of the religion practiced in different regions.
The history of Buddha was passed down orally from one generation to the next, and even his teachings were written down hundreds of years after he passed away. Few facts about his actual life were retained, and it is said that after the passing away of the Buddha, an Indian king called Ashoka decided to extend the empire through a military invasion. As a result of the great bloodshed he caused, he was struck with remorse and converted into Buddhism. Buddhism was widely adopted in the empire during this period as a result of King Ashoka. After his death, the adoption of Buddhism declined greatly due to the execution of Buddhists by the Brahmins. Due to the widespread adoption of the Buddhist teachings amongst different peoples and cultures, many interpretations of its teachings developed. According to Fisher, (149) one of the ancient schools that still exists today is called the Theravada which implies ‘Way of the Elders’. This school can be found in certain regions especially in Southeast Asia which include: Laos; Cambodia; Myanmar; Thailand; and Sri Lanka.
Theravadin Buddhists study their early doctrine in Pali, and they also value mindfulness and renunciation. The characteristics of renunciation are best exemplified by the monastics while the ordinary people approach its practice from a devotional point. The Pali Canon is a large collection of teachings written in the ancient Indian Pali language; and is also known as the Tipitaka (Fisher 150). The word Tipitaka means the ‘Three Baskets’ which refer to the three groups of sacred teachings. These three collections are: Dharma teachings; scholastic treatises; and the rules that govern monastic discipline. These collections were compiled by a large group of elders who numbered about 500, who had been tutored by the Buddha himself.
Theravadin Buddhists, like Buddists from other schools, also seek refuge in the Triple Gem. The Triple Gem signifies: the Buddha (the Enlightened One); the Dharma (Buddha’s teachings); and the Sangha (the Community) (Fisher 150). For one to be initiated into Buddhism, an individual must seek refuge in these three jewels through the recitation according to the Pali formula. When one takes refuge in the Buddha, one does not pray to him for assistance but instead emulates him and models himself after him, thus honoring him as a result. Taking refuge in the Dharma is like taking medication to cure our ailments; which only works after we consume the medication. The Dharma is considered timeless and instant, whose effects can only be felt through a personal experience. The Sangha is a community of beings who are considered fully realized, they have rejected the ways of the world so as to dedicate themselves to the observation and propagation of the teachings of the Dharma (Fisher 151). Monks who renounced worldly ways shaved their heads, wore robes, practiced celibacy, and embraced poverty to simplify their lives.
The Theravadin principles also ascribe to various techniques of meditation which aim to cultivate and develop the mind (Fisher 152). As further explained by Fisher, (152), the practices of meditation are branched into two: vipassana (insight); and samatha (calm-abiding). Meditation practice begins by increasing one’s attention to a particular object which centers the mind and brings about a calming effect. After achieving a feeling of calmness, one can proceed into vipassana so as to cultivate insight into the features of existence which are: anicca; anatta; and dukkha (Fisher 153). Practicing vipassana involves breathing exercises which focus on the abdomen; this involves focusing mental energy not on the wanderings of the mind, but on the practice, the rising and falling of the abdominal muscles. Sitting meditations are periodically alternated with walking meditations, with all mental energy focused on the movements made. This practice encourages one not to get attached to any emotions that are experienced, but to simply observe them and allow them to pass away. During meditation, the characteristics of existence tend to reveal themselves; suffering (dukka), lack of self-eternity (anatta), and impermanence (anicca).
Certain devotional practices are carried out by Theravadin lay people in addition to the philosophical studies they learn. There are numerous shrines, temples, and halls which are filled with images of Buddha, and which the lay people venerate by burning incense, making prayers, and lighting candles. Different rituals are usually carried out in different regions, but they are all done with the aim of connecting to the Buddha, hoping to venerate him and reap benefits from it. These devotional practices are usually carried out with different aims, for example, in Sri Lanka; the power of the Dharma is used to chase away evil spirits, while Buddhist stories may be told during rituals for healing to assist the patient to free himself from his affliction (Fisher 153).
This form of Buddhism strikes me as promoting the stability of the individual. Theravadin Buddhism seems to have formed the foundation of the Buddhism practiced in different regions and as such is simple and less complicated than other forms. It embodies a variety of practices, all aimed at self- improvement and awareness. While other forms of Buddhism have seemed to further develop the concepts that Theravadin Buddism represents, it does retain its position as a formidable school of thought. Some may argue that Theravadin Buddhism is selfish in its approach, as it focuses solely on individual development rather than another form of Buddhism like the Mahayana form. Mahayana Buddhism not only embraces the teachings of the Dharma, but goes a step further to incorporate these teachings into various skills sets, aimed at a transformed experience of life.