Unlike Vajrayāna, Esoteric Theravāda has no Tantra, only practices, so it has no text in regards to the practices unlike Vajrayāna, however there are meditation manuals. Meditation Manuals such as found in the Yogāvacara tradition was a mainstream Buddhist tradition in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand well into the modern era. An inscription from Northern Thailand with esoteric elements has been dated to the Sukhothai Kingdom of the 16th century.
So what extra things in Esoteric Theravāda Buddhism are done apart from the normal Theravada traditions?
Rituals, Inclusion of Mantras, Different meditation methods. There are various practices such as veneration of Nāgas, Veneration of the Hindu Gods, alchemical systems, and various rituals that cannot be found in classical Theravāda Buddhism.
In Esoteric Theravāda, to refer to an Ācariya and Teacher, they are referred to as “Kruba”.
“Kru” comes from the Sanskrit word, ‘Guru’.
“Ba” is to refer to a senior monk such as an abbot who is over 50 years old (generally 30 years in robe) and who teaches young lay men (Kula Butra).
The word “Kruba” can be a possible cognate to the refuge term found in Vajrayāna, “Namo GuruBhya”.
Namo means “Taking homage to.”
Guru, meaning teacher.
Bhya, means the preposition “to” in “Homage to the Master”.
All monks with the title of Kruba are esoteric Theravāda, this is a title used to distinguish them from the normal, “Phra Ajarn”. Another term used for Esoteric Theravādin Monastics are "Geiji Ajarn", however the meaning is not clear.
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