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Essay on Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism
Based on the tradition of the "theras" or elder monks, this 2500 years old conservative Buddhism is best understood as a single lineage based on a comparatively small body of texts which is popularly known as the Triple Gems preserved in Pali language (similar to Sanskrit language). Theravada Buddhism was introduced into most of South and South East Asia from India, which is distinct form the Mahayana Buddhism introduced into Tibet and China.
The Theravada school traces its descent from the original sangha, or monastic community that first followed the Buddha. Its canon of scripture consists of the Tipitaka (Three Baskets), the first great compendium of Buddhist writings, composed in the Pali language. Theravada tends toward doctrinal conservatism, exemplified in a cautious interpretation of its canon. Because of this, it has been given the pejorative name Hinayana (Sanskrit for “Lesser Vehicle”) by its rivals, who call their own tradition Mahayana (“Greater Vehicle”). The goal of the Theravadin, or devotee of Theravada, is to become an arhat, a sage who has achieved nirvana (enlightenment) and will never be reborn. Mahayana traditionally prefers the figure of the bodhisattva—who, out of compassion, helps others toward salvation—to the arhat, who is concerned chiefly with his own salvation.
A close symbolic relationship between the Theravada Buddhists monks and the lay people exist today, which is very similar to that existing at the time of Gautama Buddha around BC 600. The monks strictly obey the traditional rules prescribed for monks and nuns upholding the original teachings of Buddha. Theravada Buddhism is actively practiced in the countries of Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos and Burma (Myanmar) by millions of lay people (Diana, 1998).Theravada Buddhism is a discipline in which an individual is engaged in ascetic practices in order to achieve salvation or liberation (moksha) for himself by himself.....
