What is Theravada?
{{Buddhism}} '''Theravada''' is the oldest-surviving [[Religious denomination|denomination]] of [[Buddhism]]. == History of Theravada Buddism == Theravada was founded in [[Nepal]]. It is relatively conservative, and generally closest to early Buddhist practice.<ref>Gethin, ''Foundations'', page 1</ref> For many centuries it has been the main religion of [[Sri Lanka]] (now about 70% of the population<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ce.html | title = The World Factbook: Sri Lanka | work = CIA World Factbook | accessdate = 2006-08-12 | archive-date = 2018-12-24 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181224211303/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ce.html | url-status = dead }}.</ref>) and most of continental [[Southeast Asia]] ([[Cambodia]], [[Laos]], [[Myanmar]], and [[Thailand]]). Theravada is also practiced by minorities in parts of southwest [[China]] (by the [[Shan people|Shan]] and [[Thailand|Tai]] ethnic groups), [[Vietnam]] (by the [[Khmer Krom]]), [[Bangladesh]] (by the ethnic groups of [[Barua]]s, [[Chakma]], and [[Magh people|Magh]]), [[Malaysia]] and [[Indonesia]]. == Theravada today == Recently this oldest-surviving denomination of Buddhism gaining popularity in [[Singapore]] and the [[Western world]]. Today Theravada Buddhists, who are also known as '''Theravadins''', number over 100 million worldwide; in recent decades Theravada has begun to take root in the West<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/whats-thera.htm |title=What is Theravada Buddhism? |first=John |last=Bullitt |work=BuddhaNet |accessdate=2010-08-15 |quote=In the last century, however, the West has begun to take notice of Theravada's unique spiritual legacy and teachings of Awakening. In recent decades, this interest has swelled, with the monastic Sangha from the various schools within Theravada establishing dozens of monasteries across Europe and North America. |archive-date=2012-08-10 |archive-url=https://