Belief in Deity
The concept of a supreme Creator God is rejected or at least considered irrelevant to Theravada Buddhism. Buddha, "the Awakened One," is revered above all--not as "God" but as supreme sage, model of a fully enlightened person.
? Incarnations
Buddha was a human, a fully enlightened spiritual teacher and inspiration. As there is no belief in or relevant God, there are no incarnations of God worshiped.
? Origin of Universe and Life
Buddhists consider it the job of scientists to explain origins of the universe and life. There is no contradiction with scientific discovery, however many maintain that the world creates and recreates itself millions of times every fraction of a second.
? After Death
There is no transmigration of individual souls, but through the law of karma, ones wholesome or unwholesome intentions become imprinted in the mind. Negative mental states persist through continual rebirth until ones intentions become wholesome. Once fully enlightened, one is liberated from rebirths, reaching a state of absolute selflessness resulting in ultimate bliss called Nirvana--the "Deathless State." One becomes Buddha (or one with Buddha). Some Buddhists, especially modern Western, don't emphasize or believe in literal rebirth.
? Why Evil?
People have free will to commit wrongs or rights. Evil doings may result when egoism, cravings, attachments, and ignorance are expressed as greed, hatred, and violence, which, if unmitigated, is perpetuated through rebirth.
? Salvation
Enlightenment is an individual journey to Nirvana (complete bliss)--liberation from suffering and cycles of rebirth--achieved by following the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path. To eliminate karma, which causes rebirth, one must extinguish the belief in a separate self that give rise to cravings, desires, and attachments. The path to enlightenment includes loving-kindness and compassion, moral conduct, charity, wisdom, and meditation.
? Undeserved Suffering
Unenlightened life is suffering, and the cessation of this suffering is the primary goal of Buddhism--to reach Nirvana, to end cycles of rebirth. Suffering is a result of past-life greed, hatred, and ignorance, which return as suffering (karma), while compassion toward others who suffer reduces the effects of karma.
? Contemporary Issues
Abortion is considered murder, and all violent acts cause horrific karmic consequence. Homosexuality in itself is not specifically condemned by scripture, but opinions vary, especially among various Buddhist cultures--e.g., Buddhists in the United States are generally very accepting, while some Asian Buddhists are generally strongly opposed to homosexuality. It is believed that divorce wouldn't occur if one follows Buddhist precepts, but a couple is not condemned if they separate due to vast personal differences. In Theravada countries, gender roles are generally traditional (e.g. woman as child caretakers and men as providers), but less rigid as contemporary demands are made on women (e.g. working women).
Theravada Buddhists don't believe in the ideal of Bodhisattva and prefer to concentrate directly on meditation, instead of helping others.
Of course, that's a vast over generalization. They still care for others, it's just this ideal isn't incorporated into their philosophy, as it is in Mahayana.
On some level, Theravada Buddhism represent the most primitive (but also most honest) form of Buddhism. Monks, for example, aren't allowed to own more than 7 items, and that includes their begging bowl and clothes. Too bad that this no longer holds true, as many Theravada monks own cellphones, etc...
What's really uniquely interesting about Theravada is that laymen believers are expected to temporarily become monks for a couple of years, and then return to their "civilian" lives. That gives them the opportunity to appreciate how it is to be a clergy and a follower.
My problem with Theravada is that their form of meditation tends to be very repetitive and intellectually stimulating. For example, when you're sitting, you're supposed to mentally repeat "sitting, sitting, sitting...". When you're eating, "eating, eating, eating...". Even when you're bored, you're supposed to repeat "bored, bored bored..." Etc...
Another interesting thing about Theravada is that their monks make daily rounds begging for food from villagers in exchange for blessing. In fact, it's expected from the villagers to feed them, because the monks aren't supposed to work at all. Not even cook. The monks get fed, and the villagers get good karma in return. Some Mayahana monks beg too, but it's far less common.
The Theravada philosophy is a continuous analytical process of life, not a mere set of ethics and rituals.
The ultimate theory of Theravada uses the Four Noble Truths, also known as the Four Sublime Truths. In the simplest form these can be described as the problem, the cause, the solution and the pathway to solution (implementation).
Theravada promotes the concept of Vibhajjavada (Pali), literally "Teaching of Analysis." This doctrine says that insight must come from the aspirant's experience, critical investigation, and reasoning instead of by blind faith; however, the scriptures of the Theravadin tradition also emphasize heeding the advice of the wise, considering such advice and evaluation of ones own experiences to be the two tests by which practices should be judged.
In Theravada, the cause of human existence and suffering (Gurkha) is identified as craving (tan ha), which carries with it the defilement's (Kile's). Those defilement's that bind human to the cycle of rebirth are classified into a set of ten "Fetters", while those defilement's that impede concentration (sadhu) are presented in a fivefold set called the "Five Hindrances".[26] The level of defilement can be coarse, medium, and subtle. It is a phenomenon that frequently arises, remains temporarily and then vanishes. Theravadins believe defilements are not only harmful to oneself, but also harmful to others. They are the driving force behind all inhumanities a human being can commit.
Theravadins believe these defilements are the habits born of ignorance (avijja) which afflict the minds of all unenlightened beings. It is believed that unenlightened beings are under the influence of the defilements, unenlightened beings cling to them through ignorance of the truth. But in reality, those mental defilements are nothing more than taints that have afflicted the mind and create suffering and stress. It is also believed that unenlightened beings cling to the body, assuming it as their own "Self", but in reality the body is an impermanent phenomenon formed from the four basic elements. Often characterized by earth, water, fire and air, in the early Buddhist texts these are defined to be abstractions representing the sensorial qualities solidity, fluidity, temperature, and mobility, respectively.[27] The mental defilements' frequent instigation and manipulation of the mind is believed to have prevented the mind from seeing the true nature of reality. Unskillful behavior in turn can strengthen the defilements, but following the Noble Eightfold Path can weaken or eradicate them.
It is also believed that unenlightened beings experience the world through their imperfect six sense doors (eye, ear, nose, tongue, tactile sense, and mind) and then use the mind clouded by defilements to form their own interpretation, perception and conclusion[28]. In such a condition the perception or conclusion made will be based on that being's own illusion of reality.[29] In the state of jhana (deep concentration), the five physical sense doors will fade, the mental defilements will be suppressed, and wholesome mental traits will become strengthened. The mind can then be used to investigate and gain insight into the true nature of reality.
There are three stages of defilements. During the stage of passivity the defilements lies dormant at the base of the mental continuum as latent tendencies (anusaya), but through the impact of sensory stimulus it will manifest (pariyutthana) itself to the surface of consciousness in the form of unwholesome thoughts, emotions, and volitions. If they gather additional strength, the defilement will reach the dangerous stage of transgression (vitikkama), which will then involve physical or vocal actions.
It is believed that in order to be free from suffering and stress these defilements need to be permanently uprooted. Initially the defilements are restrained through mindfulness to prevent them from taking over the mind and bodily action. They are then uprooted through internal investigation, analyzing, experiencing and understanding the true nature of those defilements by using jhana. This process needs to be repeated for each and every defilement.
What exactly do Theravada Buddhists believe?
