The way of the elders — the oldest surviving school.
The school of the Pali canon: the historical Buddha's path preserved conservatively, aiming at the arhat's own liberation through ethics, concentration, and insight. Dominant in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia; source of the modern mindfulness movement.
DeitiesNone — no god at the center
Foundedc. 250 BCE · Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia
AfterlifeRebirth until nibbana
TextsPali Canon
The map
Theravāda’s corner of it — solid lines are descent; dotted lines are resemblance only, ideas held in common across unrelated faiths. Click a node to recenter; ✕ returns here. All 171 faiths →
c. 1500 BCE Vedic Religion c. 480 BCE Buddhism c. 250 BCE Theravāda
The Pali canon preserves the elder teaching.
The oldest complete record of the Buddha's discourses, held conservatively.
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The arhat completes the path.
Liberation is won individually — the noble person who has done what needed doing.
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Mindfulness is the method.
Satipatthana — sustained attention to body and mind — the root of modern vipassana.
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The vipassana retreat.
Days of silence and sustained attention — the mind examined until it shows its seams.
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