Historical Beginning of Theravada Tradition

Theravada is combined with “Thera and vada”. Thera derives from Thira. The definition of Thira is stable or firm. The word “firm” is also called Sīla, Samādi and Piññā according to the commentary of Theragāthā, Therīgāthā and Apādāna. 

Those who are endowed with these qualities are called Thera. Vada means the teaching of the Thera. So, according to “Therānam Vado Theravādo” the teaching of Thera is called Therava. That is Another definition of Theravada Tradition.

            Theravada means the opinion of the senior monks of Buddha’s disciples. After the Buddha passed away, Ven. Mahākassapa led and held the first Buddhist Council participating Five hundred Arahants.

            They accepted this word that “Handa mayam āvuso dhammam ca vinayam ca sangāyāma” encouraged by Ven. Mahākassapa. Then, they collected all Buddha’s teachings and counted how much Dhamma and Vinaya. All Dhamma and Vinaya were classified systematically.    

Then, within hundred years, in order to examine and suppress the practices of unlawful ten points from the Vinaya held by Vajjian monks, Theras held the Second Buddhist Council. Led by Ven. Yasa, Revata and Sabbakāmī, that council was performed with seven hundred monks. There were different views about Vinaya between the two councils.

After the Socend Buddhist Council, there arose different views as regards Dhamma. It is consider ed that Kathāvatthu composed by Moggaliputtatissa had developed philosophical points of views.  Regarding the views of Dhamma, there developed 7 schools in Mahāsanghika and 11 schools in Thera vāda within three hundred centuries B. C. Many years later, Mahāsanghika became Mahāyāna. The eleven sets are Mahisāsaka, Vijjiputtaka, Dhammaguppattika and Sabbatthivāda, etc. Mahāsan ghikas were also divided as Gokulika, Paññattivāda, Cetiyavāda and so on. Theravāda school gradually declined from India. But its branch continues to survive in Sri Lanka and South East Asia.

First and second Buddhist Councils arose depending on Vinaya problems. The third Buddhist Council arose depending on Dhamma because there were arguments each other on the Dhamma.

            After the Third Buddhist Council, with Āsoka’s patronage, Moggaliputta Tissa sent religious missions to nine different countries for the introduction, development and spread of Buddhism. Buddhism flourished depending on geographical area as Northern Buddhism and southern Buddhism.

The Theravada school bases on its practice and doctrine especially the Pāli Canon and its commentaries. After being orally transmitted for a few centuries, the Pāli canon and commentaries were written in the last century BC.

            Theravāda is primarily practiced today in Sri Lanka, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia as well as small portions of China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bangladesh. It has a growing at presence in Europe and America.

            In conclusion, the early three councils were held in India. They are regarded as early historical beginning of Theravāda Tradition. Theras participated in all councils. So, Theravāda is nothing but the opinion of the senior monksof Buddha’s disciples.