Theravada Buddhism: Continuity, Diversity, and Identity

This comprehensive study explores all aspects of Theravada, its doctrines, literature and practices, examining developments and diversity from its earliest centuries to the present day. Theravada Buddhism offers an enriching and enlightening overview of the history, teachings, and beliefs of Theravada for students, as well as discussing the findings of recent research for more advanced readers. Theravada, the Buddhism of Sri Lanka and mainland Southeast Asia, is frequently misidentified with early Buddhism and Hinayana Buddhism. Studies of contemporary Theravada are often limited to the tradition of a single country, but this book treats it as a multifaceted religion that has evolved over two and a half millennia. From the various countries of the region, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, a wealth of material is featured, revealing the rich and varied traditions that encompass Theravada.

Kate Crosby is a Seiyu Kiriyama Reader in Buddhist Studies in the Department of the Study of Religions at SOAS, University of London, and is also a member of the Centre of South East Asian Studies and the Centre of Buddhist Studies. She is the author or editor of a number of books, including Santideva’s Bodhicaryavatara: Buddhist Path To Awakening (with Andrew Skilton, 1998), and The Dead of Night & the Women (2009).