theravada buhdism
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Theravada Buddhism
Creation
Theravada Buddhism is based on the tradition of 'thras' or elder monks. This Buddhism is 2500 years old, and is best understood as a single linage base on a comparitivly small body of texts, which are popularly are known as the triple gems preserved in 'pali' language. Theravada Buddhism was introduced into most of South and South East Asia from India, which is distinct form the Mahayana Buddhism introduced into Tibet and China.
A close symbolic relationship between the Theravada Buddhists monks and the lay people exist today, which is very similar to that of the time of 'Guatama'Buddha around 600 BC. Theravada Buddhism is actively practiced in the countries of Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos and Burma by millions of lay people.
Theravada Buddhism emphasizes the rational, individual effort and self-discipline necessary for freedom form Samsara or the cycle of rebirth-conditioned world. This promotes three aspects of spirituality which include:
Dahna (generosity)
Sila (morality)
Bhavana (mental exercise development or meditation)
Karma
In traditional forms of Buddhism, the concepts of Karma and rebirth are intertwined and inseparable, though the traditional concept of rebirth as a factual doctrine has found itself under a fair deal of re-interpretation particularly in western Buddhism.
The word Karma simply means 'actions.' The general idea behind karma is that every thought and action of a person not only changes circumstances in the world, but also punishes internally on the person and changes their future circumstances in this and in other lives.
In the same way that we can describe an action as being either good or bad, we can say that each of these actions will bring about a different result...