“Contributions
of Buddhist councils for the propagations of Buddhism with reference to the
first second and third councils”
Contents
Ø First Buddhist council
· Reasons effected for the first council
Ø Introduction to the first three Buddhist councils
· Took place 3 months after the great demise of the Buddha
Effected reasons for the first Buddhist councilThe Buddha addressed his disciples and told them as “after my great demise, dhamma and Vinaya would be the teacher” as a result of this great statement done by the Buddha was the major reason holding the first council.At the time of the Buddha there were some impious monks holding wrong views and interpreted as Buddha Vacana. Among them Devadatta, Sunakkatta, Aritta and Sāti can be known as impious monks. Protect Dhamma and Vinaya from them was another reason.It was like a flower table the teachings of the Buddha. All the teachings were here and there. To collect them together was another reason.A monk called Subaddra resented the strict rules and rejoiced at not having to follow them anymore.
Due to the fact that these reasons are more danger for the safeguarding the teachings of the Buddha, it was decided to call the first Buddhist council. As a result of this council the Buddha’s teachings could get together and divided into two parts. At the first council Venerable Ananda who was the Buddha’s attendant and constant compassion recited Dhamma and rules and regulations on monastic order were recited by venerable Upāli. At the end of this council Buddha’s teachings had been separated into two parts as Vinaya pitaka and Suttapitaka.Vinaya pitaka, there are five particular books can be seen.
Pārājikā pāli Vibhaṅga
Pācitya pāli
As well as suttapitaka also categorized into five Nikāyas
Dīgha nikāya - venerable Ananda and his students or followers
Majjhima nikāya- Venerable Sāriputta and students
Saṅyukta nikāya - Venerable Kassapa and followers
Aṅguttara nikāya- venerable Anurudda and followers
Khuddaka nikāya- this collection was collectively divided to the all followers
Ø Second Buddhist council
· Reasons effected for the first council
· Outcomes of the first council
It is very important to note that here the an importance of the second Buddhist council which was held at Vesalī with the patronage of king kālāsoka after the hundred years of the great demise of the Buddha. Venerable Revathe was the president of this council and seven hundred monks attended for this council.
Took place 100 years after the great demise
Held at Vesalī
Patronage of king kālāsoka
Presided over by Venerable Revatha with 700 monks
After the hundred years of the great demise of the Buddha, again the teachings of the Buddha and his order started declining. The main reason behind this problem was impious people came to the order and the expected their own rules to lead a monkhood life. But their own rules completely damage to the pure order and his disciples. They expected ten disputed points or (Dasa akapa vasthu) and these ten disputed points were followed by Vajji monks. These are the closer reason behind the calling of second Buddhist council. The ten disputed points are
1. Singilona kappa: using salt in horns
2. Dvangula kappa: eating after midday
3. Āvāsa kappa: holding the uposata in a separate building
4. Gāmāntara kappa: to eat once and then going again to a village for more food
5. Anumati kappa: performing a vinaya ceremony then getting consent from absent monks
6. Ācinna kappa: following a certain practice because it was done by monks tutor or teacher
7. Āmtita kappa: drinking sour milk after the midday
8. Jalogipāna kappa: drinking unfermented palm wine
9. Adasaka nisīdana kappa: using a mat has fringes
10. Jātarūpa rajata patiggahana kappa: accepting and using gold and silver
As result of this second Buddhist council Buddhist order was divided into two sects and Theravāda and Mahā sāngika or mahāyāna. When the third Buddhist council starts it had been expanded in to eight sects. At the same time again mahāsāngika can be divided into five parts as
1. Gokulīya
2. Ekabbhohārikaya
3. Cetiyavādī
4. Paññattiyavādī
5. Bāhulikaya
At the same time theravāda also can be divided into eleven parts as
1. Mahiṅsāsaka
2. Vajjiputtaka
3. Dhammottariya
4. Sammitiya
5. Sabbattiyavādī
6. Dhamma guttikaya
7. Badra yānikaya
8. Cannāgariya
9. Kassapīya
10. Saṁkāntikaya
11. Suttavādī
At the second council it was able to reject or expel the ten disputed points and again the order was pure and it was able to protect the order from the impious people.
Ø Third Buddhist council
· Reasons effected for the first council
· Outcomes of the first council
It is true that the third Buddhist council have done a major influence for the propagation of the Buddhism and the Buddhist order. According to the Buddhist history after the two hundred year of the second Buddhist council third Buddhist council was held at Asokārāma in pātalīputta under the patronage of king Asoka and presided over by Venerable Moggalīputta tissa with thousand monks. When we look at the effected reasons behind this council there are number of reasons could be found in which,
Impious people entered the order with greediness of material benefits
Emerging the various views on Buddha vacana
Separating monks into the sects
Not having a powerful king
These are the closer effected reason when discussing the third Buddhist council.
As well as when we look at the benefits of the third council it is also proved that there are very important advantages was arose as a result of this council.
Katāvatthūpakarana which was compiled at the first Buddhist council was able to be completed under the guidance of Venerable Moggaliputta tissa as a result of third Buddhist council. This is the book which expelled the five hundred wrong views and accept five hundred right views.
As a result of the third Buddhist council, it was able to expel 60.0000 impious monks who had wrong views on Buddha vacana and Vinaya was able to be protected.
As a result of third Buddhist council theravāda tripitaka was completed at the end of the this council.
Due to the fact that king was a righteous person, who helped to the Buddhist order and monks Buddhism was propagated with the patronage of King Asoka.
Finally as a result of the third Buddhist council Buddhism was spread within nine countries with the patronage of King Asoka. The Nine countries are as follow
Kāsmeera: Venerable Majjhantika / āsivisopama sutta
Mahisa: Venerable Mahādeva / devadūta sutta
Vanavāsa: venerable Rakkhita / anamatagga sutta
Aparanta: Venerable Yonaka dhamma rakkhita / aggikkhandhopama sutta
Mahāratta: venerable Mahā dhamma rakkhita / mahā nārada kassapa jātaka
Yonaka: Venerable Mahā rakkhita / kālāma sutta
Himavantha: Venerable Majjhima / Dhammacakkapavattana sutta
Suvarnabhūmi: venerable Sona and Uttara / Brahmajāla sutta
Tambhapannī: venerable Mahinda / Chullahattipadopama sutta
These are the advantages that we can see from the third Buddhist Council.
Conclusion
Authentic teachings of the Buddha Gotama have been preserved and handed down to us and are to be found in the Tipitaka. All of the Buddha's teachings were divided into three parts. The first part is known as the Suttanta Pitaka and it contains the Discourses. The second part is called the Vinaya Pitaka and it contains all the rules the Buddha laid down for monks and nuns. The third part is known as the Abhidhamma Pitaka and comprises the Buddha's teachings on his psycho-ethical philosophy. It is known, that whenever the Buddha gave a discourse to his ordained disciples or lay-followers or prescribed a monastic rule in the course of his forty-five year ministry, those of his devoted and learned monks, then present would immediately commit his teachings word for word to memory. Thus the Buddha's words were preserved accurately and were in due course passed down orally from teacher to pupil. Some of the monks who had heard the Buddha preach, in person were Arahants, and so by definition, 'pure ones' free from passion, ill-will and delusion and therefore, without doubt capable of retaining, perfectly the Buddha's words. Thus they ensured that the Buddha's teachings would be preserved faithfully for posterity. Even those devoted monks who had not yet attained Arahantship but had reached the first three stages of sainthood and had powerful, retentive memories could also call to mind and word for word what the Buddha had preached and so could be worthy custodians of the Buddha's teachings. One such monk was Ananda, the Buddha's cousin and chosen attendant and constant companion during the last twenty-five years of the Buddh's life. Ananda was highly intelligent and gifted with the ability to remember whatever he had heard spoken. Indeed, it was his express wish that the Buddha always relate all of his discourses to him and although he was not yet an Arahant, he deliberately committed to memory and word for word all the Buddha's sermons with which he exhorted monks, nuns and his lay followers. The combined efforts of these gifted and devoted monks made it possible for the Dhamma and Vinaya, as taught by the Buddha to be preserved in its original state. All these were as a result of these three Buddhist councils.
Ø Bibliography
http://www.budsas.org/ebud/ebdha134.htm
http://stylomilo.com/files/mv/YMBADip/Dhamma/The%20Six%20Buddhist%20Councils%20-%20LTY.pdf
http://www.purifymind.com/BuddhistCouncils.htm
Ø First Buddhist council
· Reasons effected for the first council
Ø Introduction to the first three Buddhist councils
· Took place 3 months after the great demise of the Buddha
Effected reasons for the first Buddhist councilThe Buddha addressed his disciples and told them as “after my great demise, dhamma and Vinaya would be the teacher” as a result of this great statement done by the Buddha was the major reason holding the first council.At the time of the Buddha there were some impious monks holding wrong views and interpreted as Buddha Vacana. Among them Devadatta, Sunakkatta, Aritta and Sāti can be known as impious monks. Protect Dhamma and Vinaya from them was another reason.It was like a flower table the teachings of the Buddha. All the teachings were here and there. To collect them together was another reason.A monk called Subaddra resented the strict rules and rejoiced at not having to follow them anymore.
Due to the fact that these reasons are more danger for the safeguarding the teachings of the Buddha, it was decided to call the first Buddhist council. As a result of this council the Buddha’s teachings could get together and divided into two parts. At the first council Venerable Ananda who was the Buddha’s attendant and constant compassion recited Dhamma and rules and regulations on monastic order were recited by venerable Upāli. At the end of this council Buddha’s teachings had been separated into two parts as Vinaya pitaka and Suttapitaka.Vinaya pitaka, there are five particular books can be seen.
|
|
Pārājikā pāli Vibhaṅga
Pācitya pāli
As well as suttapitaka also categorized into five Nikāyas
Dīgha nikāya - venerable Ananda and his students or followers
Majjhima nikāya- Venerable Sāriputta and students
Saṅyukta nikāya - Venerable Kassapa and followers
Aṅguttara nikāya- venerable Anurudda and followers
Khuddaka nikāya- this collection was collectively divided to the all followers
Ø Second Buddhist council
· Reasons effected for the first council
· Outcomes of the first council
It is very important to note that here the an importance of the second Buddhist council which was held at Vesalī with the patronage of king kālāsoka after the hundred years of the great demise of the Buddha. Venerable Revathe was the president of this council and seven hundred monks attended for this council.
Took place 100 years after the great demise
Held at Vesalī
Patronage of king kālāsoka
Presided over by Venerable Revatha with 700 monks
After the hundred years of the great demise of the Buddha, again the teachings of the Buddha and his order started declining. The main reason behind this problem was impious people came to the order and the expected their own rules to lead a monkhood life. But their own rules completely damage to the pure order and his disciples. They expected ten disputed points or (Dasa akapa vasthu) and these ten disputed points were followed by Vajji monks. These are the closer reason behind the calling of second Buddhist council. The ten disputed points are
1. Singilona kappa: using salt in horns
2. Dvangula kappa: eating after midday
3. Āvāsa kappa: holding the uposata in a separate building
4. Gāmāntara kappa: to eat once and then going again to a village for more food
5. Anumati kappa: performing a vinaya ceremony then getting consent from absent monks
6. Ācinna kappa: following a certain practice because it was done by monks tutor or teacher
7. Āmtita kappa: drinking sour milk after the midday
8. Jalogipāna kappa: drinking unfermented palm wine
9. Adasaka nisīdana kappa: using a mat has fringes
10. Jātarūpa rajata patiggahana kappa: accepting and using gold and silver
As result of this second Buddhist council Buddhist order was divided into two sects and Theravāda and Mahā sāngika or mahāyāna. When the third Buddhist council starts it had been expanded in to eight sects. At the same time again mahāsāngika can be divided into five parts as
1. Gokulīya
2. Ekabbhohārikaya
3. Cetiyavādī
4. Paññattiyavādī
5. Bāhulikaya
At the same time theravāda also can be divided into eleven parts as
1. Mahiṅsāsaka
2. Vajjiputtaka
3. Dhammottariya
4. Sammitiya
5. Sabbattiyavādī
6. Dhamma guttikaya
7. Badra yānikaya
8. Cannāgariya
9. Kassapīya
10. Saṁkāntikaya
11. Suttavādī
At the second council it was able to reject or expel the ten disputed points and again the order was pure and it was able to protect the order from the impious people.
Ø Third Buddhist council
· Reasons effected for the first council
· Outcomes of the first council
It is true that the third Buddhist council have done a major influence for the propagation of the Buddhism and the Buddhist order. According to the Buddhist history after the two hundred year of the second Buddhist council third Buddhist council was held at Asokārāma in pātalīputta under the patronage of king Asoka and presided over by Venerable Moggalīputta tissa with thousand monks. When we look at the effected reasons behind this council there are number of reasons could be found in which,
Impious people entered the order with greediness of material benefits
Emerging the various views on Buddha vacana
Separating monks into the sects
Not having a powerful king
These are the closer effected reason when discussing the third Buddhist council.
As well as when we look at the benefits of the third council it is also proved that there are very important advantages was arose as a result of this council.
Katāvatthūpakarana which was compiled at the first Buddhist council was able to be completed under the guidance of Venerable Moggaliputta tissa as a result of third Buddhist council. This is the book which expelled the five hundred wrong views and accept five hundred right views.
As a result of the third Buddhist council, it was able to expel 60.0000 impious monks who had wrong views on Buddha vacana and Vinaya was able to be protected.
As a result of third Buddhist council theravāda tripitaka was completed at the end of the this council.
Due to the fact that king was a righteous person, who helped to the Buddhist order and monks Buddhism was propagated with the patronage of King Asoka.
Finally as a result of the third Buddhist council Buddhism was spread within nine countries with the patronage of King Asoka. The Nine countries are as follow
Kāsmeera: Venerable Majjhantika / āsivisopama sutta
Mahisa: Venerable Mahādeva / devadūta sutta
Vanavāsa: venerable Rakkhita / anamatagga sutta
Aparanta: Venerable Yonaka dhamma rakkhita / aggikkhandhopama sutta
Mahāratta: venerable Mahā dhamma rakkhita / mahā nārada kassapa jātaka
Yonaka: Venerable Mahā rakkhita / kālāma sutta
Himavantha: Venerable Majjhima / Dhammacakkapavattana sutta
Suvarnabhūmi: venerable Sona and Uttara / Brahmajāla sutta
Tambhapannī: venerable Mahinda / Chullahattipadopama sutta
These are the advantages that we can see from the third Buddhist Council.
Conclusion
Authentic teachings of the Buddha Gotama have been preserved and handed down to us and are to be found in the Tipitaka. All of the Buddha's teachings were divided into three parts. The first part is known as the Suttanta Pitaka and it contains the Discourses. The second part is called the Vinaya Pitaka and it contains all the rules the Buddha laid down for monks and nuns. The third part is known as the Abhidhamma Pitaka and comprises the Buddha's teachings on his psycho-ethical philosophy. It is known, that whenever the Buddha gave a discourse to his ordained disciples or lay-followers or prescribed a monastic rule in the course of his forty-five year ministry, those of his devoted and learned monks, then present would immediately commit his teachings word for word to memory. Thus the Buddha's words were preserved accurately and were in due course passed down orally from teacher to pupil. Some of the monks who had heard the Buddha preach, in person were Arahants, and so by definition, 'pure ones' free from passion, ill-will and delusion and therefore, without doubt capable of retaining, perfectly the Buddha's words. Thus they ensured that the Buddha's teachings would be preserved faithfully for posterity. Even those devoted monks who had not yet attained Arahantship but had reached the first three stages of sainthood and had powerful, retentive memories could also call to mind and word for word what the Buddha had preached and so could be worthy custodians of the Buddha's teachings. One such monk was Ananda, the Buddha's cousin and chosen attendant and constant companion during the last twenty-five years of the Buddh's life. Ananda was highly intelligent and gifted with the ability to remember whatever he had heard spoken. Indeed, it was his express wish that the Buddha always relate all of his discourses to him and although he was not yet an Arahant, he deliberately committed to memory and word for word all the Buddha's sermons with which he exhorted monks, nuns and his lay followers. The combined efforts of these gifted and devoted monks made it possible for the Dhamma and Vinaya, as taught by the Buddha to be preserved in its original state. All these were as a result of these three Buddhist councils.
Ø Bibliography
http://www.budsas.org/ebud/ebdha134.htm
http://stylomilo.com/files/mv/YMBADip/Dhamma/The%20Six%20Buddhist%20Councils%20-%20LTY.pdf
http://www.purifymind.com/BuddhistCouncils.htm
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