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Sangha (I): Therav āda Buddhism

Sangha (I): Therav āda Buddhism. Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D. AST/REL 260 Buddhism Berea College Spring 2006. Early Indian Buddhism tremendously diverse in doctrines and practices

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Sangha (I): Therav āda Buddhism

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

  2. 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 1st century BCE – Tripitaka (“Three Baskets”): Sūtra (discourses of the Buddha) Vinaya (monastic regulations) 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: Bhikşu / bhikşuni (men and women in settled monastic communities) Forest monks and nuns (peripatetic) Householders (lay followers) THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUDDHIST INSTITUTIONS

  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

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

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

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

  7. 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 THERAVĀDA CHRONOLOGY

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