Theraveda Buddhism

Theravada Buddhism

Even though many persons value the idea of self-reliance, few apply the ideal to their quest for salvation. In the fifth century BCE Siddhattha Gotama, the Buddha, discovered a way to salvation that any man could gain for himself without help from a supreme being. Theraveda Buddhists believe their practices most closely reflect the original path of Gotama, and as a result stays much more philosophical than religious. Through right effort, right action, and right mindfulness, one can become enlightened and reach Nirvana.

Siddhattha Gotama was born into a life of luxury, but as he grew older he grew more restless with his way of life. Once he was finally exposed to human suffering, he realized he could not ever be happy in his current state, and began his quest to discover how to overcome suffering in life. Gotama pursued established paths and practices including self-mortification, even denying food and water until he was on the edge of death, but still could not find his answer. He found the current options available would be unable to bring what he was searching for, so Gotama created his own path to salvation. He went and sat under the now infamous bodhi tree, and began to pay attention to his breath until the answers he was searching for became clear. This meditative state differs from other forms because Gotama emphasized a heightened awareness of the present moment and concentrated mindfulness. Others meditate with the goal of reaching exceptional states of mind, but this process was about letting go of any goals to become “more open to insight into the nature of the world and self” (Gorski 109). Gotama’s extended meditation under the fig tree would lead to the liberating knowledge he sought. He was now enlightened and had conquered egotism and samsara; he was now a buddha.

The Buddhist idea of salvation is Nirvana, it is a experience of the Sacred both during one’s historical lifetime and at death. Nirvana is seen once...