| Theravada is also known as the “Teaching of the | | | | whereby he would be reborn once again to a human |
| Elders”. This is the earliest surviving form of | | | | or heavenly realm and would attain enlightenment from |
| Buddhism and is commonly found in South and | | | | there, and |
| Southeast Asian countries such as Myanmar, Thailand | | | | (3) Sottapanna (Stream-Returner) - whereby a person |
| and Sri Lanka. There is a greater focus on mental | | | | would be reborn no more than 7 times again into either |
| development of which the emphasis is on meditation. | | | | the human or heavenly realm. |
| The main doctrines of Theravada are preserved in | | | | Apart from the Four Noble Truths, Theravada |
| the Pali Canon which included classical teachings such | | | | Buddhism also touched upon subjects such as karma |
| as the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. | | | | and rebirth, interdependent origination, the three |
| There are a few levels of attainment for practitioners | | | | universal characteristics of existence, the five |
| of Theravada Buddhism; | | | | aggregates and meditation. |
| (1) Anagami (Non-Returner) – The person has | | | | Meditation is a large subject within Theravada. There |
| eradicated a series of hindrances and would never be | | | | are two main branches of meditation practiced by |
| reborn into any worldly systems, but to a heavenly | | | | Theravada Buddhists, namely the samatha and the |
| realm in which he would attain enlightenment from | | | | vipassana. The most common technique is the |
| there. | | | | awareness of breathing. The meditator closed off his |
| (2) Sakadagami (Once-Returner) – The person has | | | | senses to the outside world and examined inward |
| eradicated or weakened a series of hindrances | | | | using breathing as a calming technique. |