Theravada Buddhism: A Comprehensive Guide

Theravada Buddhism by Ashin Ottama (First Prize Winner in Competition)

Table of Contents

(Part One)

>>Chapter (1)

• Theravada and Mahayana
• A Brief Account of the Buddha’s Life
• Explanation of Eras
• The Cause of the Sangha Schism
• Theravada and the Mahāsāṅghika
• Buddhist Sects
• Theravada and the Vibhajjavāda sect
• The Blood Division by the Brahmins
• Buddhism in the Sunga Period
• King Kanishka and Buddhism
• The Sangha Council of Kanishka
• Theravada, Mahayana, Hinayana
• The Main Path of the Mahayana Sect
• The Fading of Religion in India

>>Chapter (2)

• The Spread of Theravada Religion
• How Sri Lanka became Theravada
• The Sangha Sects of Sri Lanka
• Modern Day Sects
• How Thailand became Theravada
• The Founding of Thailand
• How Cambodia became Theravada
• King Satta Jayavarman and Buddhism
• How Laos became Theravada

>>Chapter (3)

• The Theravada Councils
• Preamble to the Councils
• The First Council
• The Second Council
• The Third Council3
• The Fourth Council
• The Fifth Council
• The Sixth Council

>>Chapter (4)

• The Theravada Piṭaka
• What Theravada is
• The Vinaya Piṭaka
• The Sutta Piṭaka
• The Abhidhamma Piṭaka
• Checking the Buddhist Scriptures

>>Chapter (5)

• The Theravada Dhamma Gems
• Buddhism Among Religions
• Becoming a Buddhist
• Buddhist Sīla (Morality)
• The Kalama Sutta as a Guide
• The 10 Unwholesome Actions
• Maṅgala for the People to Practice
• Discourse on Prosperity
• The Buddha’s Perfection of Generosity
• The Noble Eightfold Path, the Supreme Dhamma
• The Nature of Nibbāna 

>>Chapter (6)

• Theravada and Myanmar 
• Buddha and Myanmar 
• The arrival of the Sāsana by Tapussa and Bhallika 
• The Second Arrival of the Sāsana 
• Theravada and the Suvannabhumi View 
• Theravada in the Pyu and Mon Eras
• The Arrival of the Burmese
• The Theravada Buddhist State
• Buddhism Under the Burmese Kings

>>Chapter (7)

• Theravada Sects
• Pagan Period Sects
• The Ramanna Sangha Sects
• The Purification of the Sāsana
• The Ari Gyi Sect
• The Pwe Kyaung Sect
• The Thudhamma and Shwegyin Sects
• Modern Day Sects
• A comparison of monastic populations

(Part Two)

>>Chapter (1)

• Worships Mixed into Theravada
• The Proliferation of Worship
• The Burmese Worship of Nats
• The Worship of the Indra Nat
• The Worship of the Saraswati Nat
• The Worship of the U Min Kyaw Nat
• The Worship of the Graha Nats (Planetary Deities)
• The 37 Nats and the 21 Devis
• The Worship of Local Nats
• The Worship of Bo Daw and Me Daw (Ancestors)
• The Worship of Royal Effigies
• The Worship of Ditthi Zawgyi and other figures
• The Worship of Shin Upagutta

>>Chapter (2)

• Beliefs Mixed into Theravada
• The Belief in the Gandhari Arts
• Astrological Beliefs
• The Comforting Scriptures of the Yadus
• The Worship of Naga and Remnants of Belief
• Belief in Bad Omens and the like
• Belief in Chanting Mantras
• Solving problems with Astrology
• The practice of Siddhi (magical powers)

>>Chapter (3)

• Theravada and Foreign Beliefs/Worship
• The Revolt of the Foreign Worship
• The Naga Garuḍa Jātaka
• The Theravada view on the Savior
• Theravada and Belief in Bad Omens
• Jātakas that Counter Bad Omens
• The 5 original tenets of Theravada Buddhism
• Ensuring correct belief and worship

>>Conclusion