1 Sangha (I): Theravāda Buddhism Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D. AST/REL 260 Buddhism Berea College Spring 2006

2 THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUDDHIST INSTITUTIONS Early Indian Buddhism tremendously diverse in doctrines and practices Oral canon of authoritative teachings first compiled within a few years of Şakyamuni’s death, but not recorded in writing until 1 st century BCE – Tripitaka (“Three Baskets”): 1. Sūtra (discourses of the Buddha) 2. Vinaya (monastic regulations) 3. Abhidharma (philosophical and psychological commentaries) Şakyamuni regarded as fully human, non-divine, now absent being At same time, relics of Şakyamuni jealously guarded and piously regarded among early Buddhist communities Sangha (community of Buddha’s disciples) develops threefold division: 1. Bhikşu / bhikşuni (men and women in settled monastic communities) 2. Forest monks and nuns (peripatetic) 3. Householders (lay followers)

3 THERAVĀDA By 200 BCE, all early Indian Buddhist sects disappear except for one: Theravāda (“Way of the Elders”) Theravāda claims to be custodian of authentic teaching of Şakyamuni, especially in terms of anātman doctrine and vinaya practice Through Aśoka’s sponsorship, Theravāda becomes established throughout South and Southeast Asia

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5 THERAVĀDA SOTERIOLOGY Emphasis on individual, rational progress toward nirvāna throughout multiple rebirths: 1. Stream-winner (one who glimpses nirvāna and thus will attain it within seven rebirths) 2. Once-returner (one whose progress merits only one more rebirth) 3. Never-returner (one who will attain nirvāna in current rebirth) 4. Arhat (“worthy one” who attains nirvāna at death) For laypersons, arhat = object of veneration For monastics, arhat = model for imitation

6 THERAVĀDA LAITY Laypersons take “Five Precepts”: 1. Not to kill 2. Not to steal 3. Not to commit sexual misconduct 4. Not to lie 5. Not to take intoxicants Laypersons generally seen as deferring nirvāna until future lifetimes, while gaining karmic merit by supporting monastics and accepting their instruction

7 THERAVĀDA MONASTICS Monastics uphold Five Precepts plus five others, for a total of “Ten Precepts”: 1. Not eat after noon 2. Not to attend entertainments 3. Not to indulge in adornments 4. Not to use luxurious bedding 5. Not to accept money Monastics generally seen most serious practitioners, who instruct laypersons while pursuing nirvāna as goal during this lifetime Since 13 th century CE, only men have been accepted as Theravāda monastics

8 THERAVĀDA CHRONOLOGY 294 BCE: Pali canon (collection of Theravāda scriptures) complete (oral) 250 BCE: Theravāda introduced to Sri Lanka by Aşokan missionaries 100 BCE: Pali canon transcribed in written form 100 CE: Theravāda introduced to Burma and central Thailand 600s CE: Theravāda begins to disappear from India 1200s CE: Theravāda introduced to Laos and Cambodia 1279 CE: Last orthodox Theravāda nuns (in Burma) 1498 CE: Portuguese invaders attempt to replace Theravāda with Christianity in Sri Lanka Late 1800s CE: Westerners help revive Theravāda in Sri Lanka; first Westerner ordained as Theravāda monk

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