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Theravada Buddhism emphasizes individual enlightenment through personal experience and investigation, while also valuing sage advice. The Noble Eightfold Path is followed to achieve spiritual awakening and meditation is key to erasing defilements and attaining Nirvana. It is practiced globally with over 100 million followers.
There are two main branches of Buddhism: Theravada and Mahayana. Mahayana Buddhism is based on a collective notion of enlightenment, where people help each other get there. Theravada Buddhism, which is considered to be the older of the two schools, is more individualistic, holding that each person must achieve enlightenment on their own.
Theravada Buddhism holds that the aspirant or seeker gains spiritual insight only from his own experience and investigation, not from blind faith, or from another person’s experience and investigation. The scriptures in the Theravada tradition, however, also emphasize listening to the advice of sages. Therefore, it is actually a combination of one’s own experience and research, along with consideration of sage advice, which will ultimately lead to spiritual growth and enlightenment.
Seekers of enlightenment in Theravada Buddhism are required to follow and practice the Noble Eightfold Path, which was taught by Buddha, in order to realize the ultimate truth. The Eightfold Path consists of right view, right aspiration, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. When this Path is faithfully followed, it is believed that the seeker will be led to spiritual awakening.
In Theravada Buddhism, the cause of all human suffering is craving, or dukkha. This desire can take the form of many types of defilements including anger, ill will, greed, jealousy, hatred, conceit, fear, obsession, sensual desire, revenge, irritation, depression, and anxiety. Theravada Buddhism holds that cravings not only harm the individual, but also others.
To free ourselves from suffering and attain enlightenment, the aspirant must meditate. This is the best and only effective technique to achieve spiritual awakening. Only in meditation can the defilements be investigated and understood, and in this way erased. In time, the meditator will come to realize enlightenment and Nirvana, the ultimate goals of Theravada Buddhism.
Nirvana refers to a state of perfect bliss, which is accompanied by liberation from the repetitive cycles of birth, disease, aging and death. Each individual is responsible for achieving their own enlightenment and liberation.
Theravada Buddhism is currently practiced all over the world, including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Burma and Thailand. It is also practiced by some minorities in parts of China, Vietnam and Bangladesh. Today there are over one hundred million adherents worldwide and in recent decades it has also attracted followers in the West.
