Four Councils of Buddha
The First Council:
Three months after the Buddha's Mahaparinirvana (passing
away), his immediate disciples convened a council at
Rajagaha. Maha Kassapa, the most respected and senior
monk, presided at the Council.
Two very important personalities who specialised in
the two areas of the teachings:
The Dharma: Ananda, the closest constant
companion and disciple of the Buddha for 25 years. Endowed
with a remarkable memory, Ananda was able to recite
what was spoken by the Buddha.
The Vinaya: Upali remembered all the Vinaya
rules.
Only these two sections - the Dharma and the Vinaya
- were recited at the First Council (no mention was
made of the Abhidharma yet). Though there were no differences
of opinion on the Dharma there was some discussion about
the Vinaya rules.
The Second Council:
According to the Theravadin school (Rahula), about one
hundred years after the Buddha's passing away, the Second
Council was held to discuss some Vinaya rules, and no
controversy about the Dharma was reported. The orthodox
monks (Sthavarivada) said that nothing should be changed,
while the others insisted on modifying some rules. Finally,
a group of monks left the Council and formed the Mahasanghika
- the Great Community. (The Mahasanghika should not
to be confused with Mahayana.)
The Third Council:
During the reign of Emperor Asoka in the 3rd Century
BCE, the Third Council was held to discuss the differences
of opinion among the bhikkhus of different sects. At
this Council differences of opinion were not confined
to the Vinaya, but also concerned the Dharma.
The President of the Council, Moggaliputta Tissa, compiled
a book called the Kathavatthu which refuted the heretical,
false views and theories held by some sects occurring
at the time. Asoka's son, Ven. Mahinda, brought the
Tripitaka to Sri Lanka, along with the commentaries
that were recited at the Third Council. These teachings
later became known as the "Pali-canon".
The Fourth Council:
The Fourth Buddhist Council was held under the auspices
of King Kaniska at Jalandhar or in Kashmir around 100
CE, where 499 monks of the Sarvastivadin school compiled
a new canon. This council was never recognised by the
Theravada school.
The Fifth Council (Burma):
The 5th Buddhist Council was held from 1868 to 1871
in Mandalay, Burma where the text of the Pali Canon
was revised and inscribed on 729 marble slabs.
The Sixth Council
(Burma): The 6th Buddhist Council was held at Rangoon,
Burma in 1954-1956.
|
