No central authority
Buddhism
around 500 million adherents worldwide.
What the sources state
Forest Sangha states that the Theravada tradition is grounded in the discourses recorded in the Pali Canon, the oldest Buddhist scriptures.
“The Theravada tradition is grounded in the discourses recorded in the Pali Canon, the oldest Buddhist scriptures.”
Forest Sangha states that Theravada means the Way of the Elders, named for its adherence to the original teachings and monastic discipline expounded by the Buddha.
“Theravada literally means the Way of the Elders, and is named so because of its strict adherence to the original teachings and rules of monastic discipline expounded by the Buddha.”
Forest Sangha describes Theravada Buddhism, also called the Southern School, as present throughout Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka.
“Theravada Buddhism, also known as the Southern School of Buddhism, is present throughout Thailand, Burma, and Sri Lanka.”
Forest Sangha describes the Thai Forest tradition as one branch of the Theravada Buddhist tradition.
“The Thai Forest tradition is one branch of the Theravada Buddhist tradition.”
Authority
Buddhism has no central authority.
No authority governs Buddhism as a whole. Festival dates are set nationally and differ between Theravāda countries and between the Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese calendars.
Traditions
Observances in 2026
| Observance | Dates | How certain |
|---|---|---|
| Vesak | 1 May 2026 | Calculated |