a major form of Hinayana Buddhism, which emphasizes asceticism, contemplation, and the monastic life
See Theravada in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(thĕrˌə-väˈdə)
noun Buddhism
A conservative branch of Buddhism that adheres to Pali scriptures and the nontheistic ideal of self-purification to nirvana and is dominant in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.