©
Staffan Scherz
Cambodia Travel Guide
©
Staffan Scherz
There are three main branches of Buddhism: Mahayana Buddhism is practised in China and Japan, Vajrayana Buddhism more in India and Theravāda Buddhism in South-East Asia.
Theravāda Buddhism draws on the guidance of Buddha and his teachings. It is the principal spiritual guide, and its ascetic way of life is seen as the ideal way to live.
The rules are very easy to follow, with the general belief being that you should not desire more than life gives you, engender violence or be envious of your neighbour. Theravāda Buddhism extols life with Man, animals and the Earth all living in harmony, as well as a more ascetic way of life.
Theravāda Buddhism is the one that most resembles original Buddhism, with the purpose of existence requiring the elimination of negative aspects from your being and the practice of meditation in order to attain nirvana. Nirvana is the moment where all feelings are extinguished from the soul of Man, leaving him with no envy, jealousy or other negative emotions, as it is the moment where Man succeeds in freeing his soul. It's a word from the 'Pali' tongue, a language used in the Theravāda buddhist works.
During your trip to Cambodia, it is essential you understand the importance of religion in everyday life. A visit to the temples will give you an idea of the importance, especially the one in Angkor, which is the largest religious construction in the world. However, you will also cross many pagodas on your journey, and you can always stop there to visit them and see how the monks live. You can also be blessed by one of them, or just speak with them in order to understand their life philosophy. It's a fantastic way to ingratiate yourself into the culture and educate yourself on your way.
