Introduction to

World Religions
and Belief Systems
11
Quarter 2
Week 3
1Module1
Module 9
Subdivisions and
Related Issues on
Theravada Buddhism
Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems – Grade 11
Quarter 2 – Module 9: Subdivisions and Related Issues on Theravada Buddhism
First Edition, 2020

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 INTRODUCTION TO WORLD
RELIGIONS AND BELIEF
SYSTEMS
11
Quarter 2
Self-Learning Module 9
Subdivisions and Related Issues on
Theravada Buddhism

Introductory Message
 For the Facilitator:

Welcome to the Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems 11 Self-

Learning Module on Subdivisions and Related Issues on Theravada Buddhism!

This Self-Learning Module was collaboratively designed, developed and

reviewed by educators from the Schools Division Office of Pasig City headed by its
Officer-in-Charge Schools Division Superintendent, Ma. Evalou Concepcion A.
Agustin, in partnership with the City Government of Pasig through its mayor,
Honorable Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto. The writers utilized the standards set by the K
to 12 Curriculum using the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) in
developing this instructional resource.

This learning material hopes to engage the learners in guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Further, this also aims to help learners
acquire the needed 21st century skills especially the 5 Cs, namely: Communication,
Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Character while taking into
consideration their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the
body of the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that
will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this
module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to
manage their own learning. Moreover, you are expected to encourage and assist the
learners as they do the tasks included in the module.

For the Learner:

Welcome to the Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems 11 Self-

Learning Module on Subdivisions and Related Issues on Theravada Buddhism!
 This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful
opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You
will be enabled to process the contents of the learning material while being an active
learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

Expectations - This points to the set of knowledge and skills

that you will learn after completing the module.

Pretest - This measures your prior knowledge about the lesson

at hand.

Recap - This part of the module provides a review of concepts

and skills that you already know about a previous lesson.

Lesson - This section discusses the topic in the module.

Activities - This is a set of activities that you need to perform.

Wrap-Up - This section summarizes the concepts and

application of the lesson.

Valuing - This part integrates a desirable moral value in the

lesson.

Posttest - This measures how much you have learned from the
entire module.

EXPECTATIONS

In this module, the students are expected to:

a. Identify the major branches of Theravada Buddhism
 b. Recognize the practices they imposed regarding the issues they are
facing
c. Develop an understanding to one’s belief and practices

PRETEST

Directions: Read the following questions and choose the letter of the correct
answer. Write your answer before each number.
1. Which of the three subdivisions of Theravada Buddhism that existed
during the early history of Sri Lanka couldn’t be traced from the three
monasteries?
a. Mahavihara c. Abhayagirivihara
b. Jetavana d. Ayutamana
2. Who was the Indian emperor who propagated Buddhism in Sri Lanka?
a. Ashoka Maurya c. Ashoka Teleb
b. Ashoka Maya d. Ashoka Mayan
3. What monastery was founded by Devanampiya Tissa?
a. Jetavana c. Abhayagiri Vihara
b. Mahavihara d. Abhayagiri Dagaba
4. What was the purpose of the National Heritage Party that was founded
by the Sri Lankan monks?
a. To support green peace advocacy
b. To support peace and order
c. To support military solutions to Sri Lanka’s ongoing civil war
d. To support the monastery program in Sri Lanka
5. What do you call the experts in teaching dharma within the sangha?
a. Kangkunnis c. Shikkunis
b. Shikkunis d. Bhikkunis

RECAP

Directions: Modified True or False. Write TRUE if the statement is correct

and if not, change the underlined word/s with the correct answer.
_______ 1. The Eightfold Path is also called the Middle Way.
_______ 2. Buddhism teaches that life brings happiness.
_______ 3. The oldest sect of Buddhism is Mahayana.
_______ 4. The word Buddha means “The Enlightened One”
_______ 5. The followers of Theravada Buddhism preserved the newer
traditions and rejected the older tradition.

LESSON
 SUBDIVISIONS AND RELATED ISSUES ON
THERAVADA BUDDHISM
Theravada is more conservative subdivision of Buddhism than
Mahayana. Thus, it is closer to the fundamental teachings of Siddhartha. Sri
Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand are predominantly Theravada Buddhists.
During the third century B.C.E., the Indian emperor Ashoka Maurya, who
ruled between 269 B.C.E. to 232 B.C.E., propagated Buddhism in Sri Lanka
that has remained relatively unchanged through time as a result of its
peaceful history. Ashoka’s son Mahinda and daughter Sanghamitra
established Buddhism in Ceylon.

Ashoka's visit to the Ramagrama stupa Sanchi Stupa 1 Southern gateway. (Photo
source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashoka#/media/File:Ashoka's_visit_to_the_Ramagram
a_stupa_Sanchi_Stupa_1_Southern_gateway.jpg)

The subdivision of Theravada that existed during the early history of

Sri Lanka can be traced from the three monasteries of:
1. Mahavihara or “Great Monastery” of Anuradhapura that was founded
by the king Devanampiya Tissa who ruled between 307 B.C.E. to 267
B.C.E.
2. Abhayagiri vihara where an ancient stupa stands today, the
Abhayagiri Dagba. It was established by the king Valagamba between
89 B.C.E. and 77 B.C.E.

The restored Abhayagiri Dagoba (stupa) in Anuradhapura (Photo source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theravada#/media/File:SRL-anuradhapura-abhagiriya-2.jpg)
 3. Jetavana – another popular monastery that was founded by king
Mahasena who ruled between 277 B.C.E. and 304 C.E. The layout of
the Jetavana monastery is similar to the Abhayagiri vihara though
with smaller in dimensions.

SELECTED ISSUES ON THERAVADA BUDDHISM

WAR AND VIOLENCE

In Buddhism, war is evil or akusala and some scholars state that it
has no rationalization in Siddhartha’s teachings. However, there are instances
where Buddhist monks engaged themselves in open conflict, such as those
that occurred in China and Japan. Recently, monks have been in the forefront
of political and social activism in Asia, such as Myanmar’s “Saffron
Revolution” in 2007 and the Tibet demonstrations in 2008. Most of the monks
advocate non-violence, Sri Lankan monks are part of the “Jathika Hela
Urumaya” or the National Heritage Party, a political party founded in 2004
that supports military solutions to the country’s ongoing civil war.
When Buddhists defend their nations, home, and family, this may
not be necessary wrong as the religion’s morality is based upon principles,
not rules. It is not righteous to ignore a circumstance when innocent civilians
are killed and slaughtered. Buddhists are taught not to yield to any form of
evil power, whether originating from humans or supernatural beings. They
are compelled to go to war when other people do not value the concepts of
brotherhood as preached by Siddhartha. They may defend and protect their
country’s sovereignty and have the duty to join in the struggle for amity and
liberty. However, following Siddhartha’s teachings, everyone is encouraged to
avoid hostilities and instead find ways to resolve disagreements in a peaceful
manner.

Protesting monks gathering at the

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon
(Photo source: https://upload.
wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4
/47/2007_Myanmar_protests.jpg)

WOMEN IN BUDDHISM
Historically speaking, Siddhartha allowed women to participate in
the sangha although there were some stipulations. His outlook is very
different when one considers the status of women in ancient India as being
viewed as inferior to men. Considered at times belonging to the lowest caste,
women’s principal role was to become faithful and devoted housewives subject
to the whims of their husbands. In Buddhism, both sexes are seen as equally
relevant in society as they share equal responsibilities in their family duties.
Within the sangha, Siddhartha recognized the potential and value of the
bhikkunis who serve also experts in teaching the dharma. These include
Dhammadina, Khema, and Uppalavanna.
Women sanghahood in Sri Lanka (Photo source:
https://www.buddhistdoor.net/features/the-amazing-resurgence-of-woman-sanghahood-in-
sri-lanka)

ACTIVITIES

Activity 1, Direction: Show the timeline of the three subdivisions of

Theravada in Sri Lanka by completing the table below.
THREE SUBDIVISIONS OF THERAVADA
Name of Period Founder
Monastery

Activity 2, Direction: Enumeration. Enumerate what is being asked in the

following. Write your answer on the space provided.
I. Countries in Southeast Asia and South Asia where Theravada
Buddhism are dominant
1. ____________________________
2. ____________________________
3. ____________________________

II. Three events where Theravada monks engage in conflict.

1. ______________________________
2. ______________________________
3. ______________________________
 WRAP-UP

In this lesson, you have learned about the subdivisions and issues
related to Theravada Buddhism. To sum up this lesson, answer the following
questions:

a. Explain each of the selected issues confronting the Theravada

Buddhism religion.
b. Discuss why Theravada Buddhism is the conservative sect in
Buddhism.

VALUING

Directions: Answer the following questions and write your answer in

your notebook.

1. What conflict involving Buddhists that are similar to the conflict we

have in our country which involved religions too? Suggest a solution to
solve it.

2. How did female Buddhists take their part in spreading Buddhism

teaching in the community? Explain

POST TEST

Directions: Read the following questions and choose the letter of the correct
answer. Write your answer before each number.
1. What is the purpose of the National Heritage Party that was founded by
the Sri Lankan monks?
a. To support green peace advocacy
b. To support peace and order
c. To support military solutions to Sri Lanka’s ongoing civil war
d. To support the monastery program in Sri Lanka
2. Which is referred as the “monastic community” of Theravada Buddhism
in the choices below?
a. Sutta c. Sudra
b. Sangha d. Siam
3. What is the second monastery in Sri Lanka?
a. Abhayagiri Dagaba c. Mahavihara
b. Jetavana d. none of the choices
4. Who among Indian emperors in the choices below who propagated
Buddhism in Sri Lanka?
c. Ashoka Maurya c. Ashoka Teleb
d. Ashoka Maya d. Ashoka Mayan
5. What is considered as the most conservative subdivision of Buddhism?
a. Mahayana c. Tibetan
b. Zen d. Theravada
PRE TEST
1. D 2. A 3. B 4. C 5. D
RECAP
1. TRUE 2. SUFFERING 3. THERAVADA 4. TRUE
5. MAHAYANA BUDDHISM
ACTIVITIES
Activity 1
THREE SUBDIVISIONS OF THERAVADA
Name of Period Founder
Monastery
307 BCE- 267 BCE King Devanampiya Tissa
Mahavihara
Abhayagiri 89 BCE- 77 BCE King Valagamba
Dagaba
Jetavana 277 BCE- 304 BCE King Mahasena
Activity 2
I. Countries in Southeast Asia and South Asia where Theravada
Buddhism are dominant:
1. Myanmar
2. Thailand
3. Sri Lanka
II. Three events where Theravada monks engage in conflict;
1. Saffron Revolution in 2007
2. Tibet demonstrations in 2008
3. National Heritage Party in 2004 to supports military
solutions to Sri Lanka ongoing civil war
KEY TO CORRECTION
 References
Books
Ong, Jerome & Mary Dorothy, 2016, Introduction to World Religion
and Belief Systems. Quezon City: VIBAL Group, Inc.
Corral Victoria &Genevie Kupang, 2016, Introduction to world
Religion and Belief Systems.Quezon City:C & E Publishing Inc.
Illustrations
“Ashoka's visit to the Ramagrama stupa Sanchi Stupa 1 Southern
gateway”, Accessed August 22, 2020, retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashoka#/media/File:Ashoka's_visit_to_the_R
amagrama_stupa_Sanchi_Stupa_1_Southern_gateway.jpg)

“Three Theravada monasteries in Sri Lanka” Accessed August 22, 2020,

retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theravada#/media/File:SRL-
anuradhapura-abhagiriya-2.jpg

“Saffron Revolution”, Accessed August 22, 2020, retrieved from

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/2007_Myanmar_p
rotests.jpg

“Woman sanghahood”, Accessed August 22, 2020, retrieved from

https://www.buddhistdoor.net/features/the-amazing-resurgence-of-
woman-sanghahood-in-sri-lanka)