Theravāda Buddhism

Theravāda Buddhism is one of the oldest forms of Buddhism, often referred to as the “path of the elders.” Based on the texts of the Tipitaka, or Pali Canon, this tradition is historically rooted in Southeast Asia, notably in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.
Within the traditions of Mahayana Buddhism and Vajrayana Buddhism, Theravāda is sometimes referred to by the term hīnayana, now considered pejorative. It emphasizes monastic discipline, meditation — particularly vipassanā — and the direct study of the Buddha’s teachings, aiming at the attainment of nibbāna (nirvana).