Although many different vehicles of Buddhism have claimed to hold the original teachings of the Buddha, Theravada Buddhism is considered the oldest and most conservative branch of Buddhist philosophy. It sees itself as carrying on the traditions and teachings introduced by the Buddha, and as such it does not concern itself with rituals, deities, or anything beyond reliance of the self, though some Theravada Buddhists venerate relics of the Buddha, such as the hair at the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda.

This doesn’t mean that Theravada Buddhists are left to their own devices in order to attain enlightenment. Those who achieve sainthood (and once they die, Nirvana) by their own means are considered to have performed the same feat as the Buddha. This is not something that is impossible, as this branch of Buddhism believes, like the Mahayana tradition, that there are many Buddhas in the past, and that there will be more in the future. Though they do not consider the Buddha to be a deity or anything above a very wise, mortal man.

As achieving enlightenment for oneself is considered the ideal in Theravada Buddhism, the monk lifestyle is the ideal path for its practitioners. Laypersons do have the potential to achieve Nirvana, but for the most part they contend themselves with supporting the monks with alms and hoping to be born into a better position to attain sainthood and Nirvana in their next life.

Ordination as a monk is not always permanent. Many youth go through a brief period as a Buddhist monk as a rite of passage into adulthood. Once they join the monks, they are completely reliant on laypeople for food and new robes- living a life that would approximate that of Siddhartha’s.

Theravada Buddhism, in comparison to the other schools, is very conservative in that it has held on to most of its practices since its inception.  It maintains that the only way to enlightenment is the life of the arhat, of the person who will achieve Nirvana through meditation and asceticism.  It lacks the role of the Bodhisattva that was present in Mahayana Buddhism, and is less forgiving to those who do not choose the monastic life.

It is more of an ‘all or nothing’ school of thought, it seems.  With more focus on a life lacking material possession, wants, or passions.