Spiritual Community of The Followers of The Path Shown by The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata
What is Theravada doctrine and discipline?
Theravada (pronounced β more or less β “terra-VAH-dah”), the “Doctrine of the Elders,” is the school of doctrine and discipline that draws its scriptural inspiration from the Tipitaka, or Pali canon, which scholars generally agree contains the earliest surviving record of the Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata’s teachings.1 For many centuries, Theravada has been the predominant religion of continental Southeast Asia (Thailand, Myanmar/Burma, Cambodia, and Laos) and Sri Lanka. Today Theravada Buddhists number well over 100 million worldwide.2 In recent decades Theravada has begun to take root in the West.