Views on Theravada?

Question

Looking for some personal views if Theravada Buddhism, I am interested in it, and seeking some peoples' views

Answer 1

I enjoy all forms of Buddhism

Answer 2

I've studied Theravada Buddhism for several years. While the tradition claims to practice the original Buddhism as found in the Pali scriptures, I've found that the tradition is more heavily dependent on the Abhidhamma and commentaries than on the scriptures themselves. In fact, most of the teachings of contemporary Theravada masters are based on the commentaries of one man known as Buddhaghosa, who compiled a series of commentaries as well as a practice manual called the Visuddhimagga. Unfortunately, where the commentaries differ from the Pali texts, preference is usually given to the commentaries.

Access to Insight is a great resource for Theravada teachings.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/

Answer 3

Theravada Buddhism

The Theravada Buddhists believe that they practice the original form of Buddhism as it was handed down to them by Buddha. Theravada Buddhism dominates the culture of Sri Lanka, but is also very prominent in Thailand and Burma…

The basic doctrines of Theravada Buddhism correspond fairly exactly with the teachings of Buddha. Theravada Buddhism is based on the Four Noble Truths and the idea that all of physical reality is a chain of causation; this includes the cycle of birth and rebirth. Through the practice of the Eightfold Noble Path and the Four Cardinal Virtues, an individual can eventually attain Nirvana . Theravada Buddhism, however, focussed primarily on meditation and concentration, the eighth of the Eightfold Noble Path; as a result, it emphasized a monastic life removed from the hustle and bustle of society and required an extreme expenditure of time in meditating. This left little room for the bulk of humanity to join in; Theravada Buddhism was, by and large, an esoteric religion. A new schism then erupted within the ranks of Buddhism, one that would attempt to reformulate the teachings of Buddha to accomodate a greater number of people: the "Greater Vehicle," or Mahayana Buddhism.
http://www.wsu.edu:8000/~dee/BUDDHISM/THERA.HTM

The Four Noble Truths
Ye dharmā hetu prabhāvā
hetuṃ teṣāṃ tathāgataḥ hyavadat
teṣāṃ ca yo nirodha
evaṃ vādī mahāśramaṇaḥ
Translation
Of those things that arise from a cause,
The Tathāgata (Buddha) has told the cause,
And also what their cessation is:
This is the doctrine of the Great Recluse (the Buddha)
http://visiblemantra.org/dharma-hetuprabhava.html
Four Noble Truths
1. The Nature of Suffering (Dukkha):
"Now this ... is the noble truth of suffering: birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death is suffering; union with what is displeasing is suffering; separation from what is pleasing is suffering; not to get what one wants is suffering; in brief, the five aggregates subject to clinging are suffering."[6]
2. Suffering's Origin (Samudaya):
"Now this ... is the noble truth of the origin of suffering: it is this craving which leads to renewed existence, accompanied by delight and lust, seeking delight here and there, that is, craving for sensual pleasures, craving for existence, craving for extermination."[6]
3. Suffering's Cessation (Nirodha):
"Now this ... is the noble truth of the cessation of suffering: it is the remainderless fading away and cessation of that same craving, the giving up and relinquishing of it, freedom from it, nonreliance on it."[6]
4. The Way (Magga) Leading to the Cessation of Suffering:
"Now this ... is the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering: it is the Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.[9][10]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Noble_Truths
1. Life means suffering.
2. The origin of suffering is attachment.
3. The cessation of suffering is attainable.
4. The path to the cessation of suffering.
http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/fourtruths.html

Answer 4

The Insight Meditation Society folks in the West are doing an excellent job of adapting Theravada for our culture, in my opinion. (They'll often refer to it as Vipassana Buddhism.) Especially Joseph Goldstein in Barre, Mass., and Jack Kornfield in Spirit Rock, California.

I'm less familiar with Goenka's work, but I know a number of folks who have done retreats in that style and have had deeply beneficial experiences.
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