THERAVADA

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Theravada mean? 

• THERAVADA (noun)
  The noun THERAVADA has 1 sense:

1. one of two great schools of Buddhist doctrine emphasizing personal salvation through your own efforts; a conservative form of Buddhism that adheres to Pali scriptures and the non-theistic ideal of self purification to nirvana; the dominant religion of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand and Laos and Cambodia

  Familiarity information: THERAVADA used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• THERAVADA (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

One of two great schools of Buddhist doctrine emphasizing personal salvation through your own efforts; a conservative form of Buddhism that adheres to Pali scriptures and the non-theistic ideal of self purification to nirvana; the dominant religion of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand and Laos and Cambodia

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

Theravada; Theravada Buddhism

Hypernyms ("Theravada" is a kind of...):

Buddhism (the teaching of Buddha that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desire ceases, and that enlightenment obtained through right conduct and wisdom and meditation releases one from desire and suffering and rebirth)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "Theravada"):

Hinayana; Hinayana Buddhism (an offensive name for the early conservative Theravada Buddhism; it died out in India but survived in Sri Lanka and was taken from there to other regions of southwestern Asia)