The Theravada branch of Buddhism is called the "Doctrine of the Elders". This branch uses the Tipitaka as its main spiritual guide and abides by the original teachings of Buddha. Theravada is also known as the "Lesser Vehicle" in Buddhism. For centuries, Theravada has been the main religion of Sri Lanka, Burma, and Thailand. Today, there are over 100 million Theravada Buddhists around the world. This branch teaches its followers to refrain from all kinds of evil, gather together all that is good, and to purify the mind. These goals can be achieved by developing an ethical mindset, meditation, and a deep thirst for knowledge.

Followers of the Theravada branch describe themselves as imperfect beings that have a temporary stay on this earth. When an individual understands this nature of existence, they find nothing valuable in this world. Through this knowledge, there is no sense of greed in their lives. Then with this knowledge, a Theravada Buddhist can reach the state of perfection and enter nirvana.