Knowing About the Buddhist Councils

Buddhist councils, also known as Buddhist synods, were pivotal assemblies in the history of Buddhism. Buddhist monastic communities convened these councils to preserve and clarify the teachings of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

The First Buddhist Council, held shortly after the Buddha’s death around 483 BC, aimed to compile and present his teachings. The Second Council convened approximately a century later and focused on disputes within the Sangha, resulting in a split between the Theravada and Mahasanghika schools.

The Third Council, held in the 3rd century BCE, resolved doctrinal disagreements and resulted in the compilation of the Tripitaka, the foundational Buddhist scriptures. The Fourth Council in the 1st century AD aimed to preserve these texts.

Subsequent councils were held in various Buddhist traditions, each of which contributed to the preservation and development of Buddhist doctrine. These councils played a key role in shaping the various schools of Buddhism and ensuring the continuity of its teachings, making them an integral part of Buddhist history and scholarship.

Buddhist Councils and Buddhist synods

Introduction

In the history of Indian religions, Buddhism occupies a unique place primarily because it opened its doors not only to Indians from all walks of life but also to foreigners such as the Indo-Greeks and Indo-Scythians who settled in India. and secondly for its promotion in foreign countries such as Ceylon and Burma, Thailand and Cambodia, Central Asia and China, Nepal and Tibet, and Indonesian countries, and finally in Korea, Japan, and Mongolia.

Along with the promotion of the religion established in these countries, Buddhist art and architecture, language and literature, and especially translations of Buddhist scriptures and supplementary literature into the languages ​​of the countries where the religion was established.

In short, the cultural heritage of India was shared by most Asians through the grace of religion. This article attempts to analyze the history of the four councils and their contributions to Buddhism.

The First Buddhist Council

The first Buddhist council was held at Rajgriha in 483 BC and was held sometime after the death of the Lord Buddha. The Buddha’s discourse was collected, classified, and accepted as an authoritative canonical text by an assembly of 500 monks representing various sanghas. The council was held under the patronage of King Ajatashatru of the Haryanka dynasty.

It was presided over by Mahakashayap, an excellent student of the Buddha who became the leader of the sangha after the Buddha’s death.

Mahakashyapa heard a monk remark that the Buddha’s death meant for the monks that they could abandon the rules of discipline and do whatever they wanted, as they wished. Therefore, the council’s first task was to review the rules of discipline for monks and nuns.

In this council, the Buddha’s teachings were divided into two parts called Vinay Pitaka and Dhamma Pitaka.

“The main aims of this council were to preserve the Buddha’s sayings (sutta) and monastic discipline or rules (Vinaya).

A compilation was made for the Buddha’s Vinaya rules (monastic discipline), under the elder Upali, and suttas (instructive aphorisms), under the disciple Ánanda. Upali and Ananda were the authorities for the vinaya and the Sutta pitaka.The significance of this council was that the entire assembly of 500 monks approved the texts. This council lasted nine months.

The Second Buddhist Council

The Second Buddhist Council was convened by King Kalashoka and held at Vaishali in 383 BC.

This council was held at Vaishali following a dispute that had arisen in the Sangha over the release of some monks from various areas of the discipline. Disputes arose over the code of discipline, as the monks of Vaishali wanted a relaxation of the rules with regard to the ten points. The specific ten points were:

• (i) Storage of salt in a corner
• (ii) eat afternoon
• (iii) Eating once and then going to the village for alms.
• (iv) conducting the Uposatha ceremony with monks residing in the same locality.
• (v) carrying out official acts when the assembly was not complete.
• (vi) following a particular practice because it was done by a teacher or teacher.
• (vii) Drinking sour milk after a midday meal
• (viii) consumption of strong drinks before their fermentation.
• (ix) using a rug that was not the correct size.
• (x) Use of gold and silver

The main problem was the use of gold and silver, which is an Indian idiom that includes any kind of money. Opinions differed, especially on whether monks should not accept god or silver from people when they offered them.

Therefore, a second council was convened in Vaishali (Bihar), which condemned the ten heresies. As the Vaishali monks stuck to their views, no agreement was reached, and the council ended in a permanent schism of the Buddhist Church into Sthavirs and Mahasanhikas. The former held the orthodox Vinaya, and the latter were changelings.

The Third Buddhist Council

The third Buddhist Council was convened by Asoka the Great.

In Pali sources such as the Dipavamsa and the Mahāvamsa, this council is said to have been presided over by Thera Moggaliputta Tissa with an assembly of a thousand Arhat monks.

As we know, Moggaliputta Tissa is known as the fifth Thera and patriarch of the Pāli school.

This council was convened by Emperor Ashoka at the request of Venerable Moggalliputta Tissa.

At the end of this council, Moggaliputta Tissa composed the book Kathavatthu, in which he set out to refute the wrong views and theories of a number of sects. The teachings that were approved and accepted by this council were known as Theravada Buddhism.

The Council achieved two important results: first, it created a new classification of Buddhist canonical texts by adding a third Pitaka called the Abhidhamma Pitaka, which contained philosophical expositions of the doctrines of the existing two pikas. As a result, the Buddha’s sayings and discourses became known as the Tripitaka. Second, canonical literature was definitively and authoritatively established so as to eliminate all disruptive tendencies that make any schism with the Church criminal.

As a result of the third council, Emperor Ashoka sent Buddhist missionaries to teach the Dhamma in various places. Following are the names of the monks and the nine regions they went to teach the Dhamma:

(i) Majjhantika

Kasmira and Gandhara,

(ii) Mahadeva

Mahisha Mandala (Mysore),

(iii) Rakkhita

Vanavasi (North Kanara in South India),

(iv) Yonaka Dhammarakkhita

Aparantaka (modern North Gujarat Kathiawar, Kutch and Sindh),

(v) Mahadhamma Rakkita

Maharashtra (parts of Maharashtra around the source of Godavari),

(vi) Maha Rakkhita

Yonakaloka (Ancient Greece),

(vii) Majjima

Himalayan region,

(viii) Sona and Uttara

Suvarna Bhumi (Burma),

(ix) Mahinda and others

Tambapannidipa (Sri Lanka).

Ashoka also sent teachers as far away as Syria and Egypt. However, the mission was successful only in Sri Lanka (Original Buddhist-Original Buddhist, Council dominated by Theravadins).

The Fourth Buddhist Council

The fourth council was convened around 100 AD (643 CE) in northern India under the patronage of the powerful king Kanishka.

According to one authority, the place of assembly was Jalandhar, and according to another, Kashmir. 5 The Fourth Council of Kashmir is not recognized as authoritative in Theravada; accounts of this council can be found in scriptures that have been preserved in the Mahayana tradition.

Although there is no indisputable evidence as to the date of his conversion, it is almost certain that the date of the council held under his inspiration and patronage was around 100 AD. Vasumitra, the great Buddhist philosopher, was the president of the council, while Asvaghosha served as the vice president.

At the request of a Buddhist philosopher, Parsva or Pārsvika, Kanishka convened a council attended by five hundred monks who were well versed in the Tri-Pitaka and the “five sciences”.

They actively participated in this council and sought to reconcile the conflicting opinions of various sects and settle the texts of canonical literature. During the council session, they composed 1,00,000 slokas of the Upadesa sastra explaining the canonical sutras; 1,00,000 stanzas of the Vinaya Vibhashäsästra explaining the Vinaya; and 1,00,000 Abhidharma-Vibhashāśāstras explaining the Abhidharma.

Thus, the main product of this council was the authentic commentary on the Tripitaka, known as the ‘Vibhasha Shastra.

The Fifth Buddhist Council

The Fifth Buddhist Council was held in Mandalay, Burma (present-day Myanmar), in 1871 under the patronage of King Mindon.

This council was presided over by Jagarabhivamsa, Narindhabhidhaja, and Sumangalasami. During this council, 729 stone tablets were engraved with Buddhist teachings.

The Fifth Buddhist Council was said to be a Burmese affair, and most other Buddhist countries did not participate. It is not generally recognized outside of Burma

The Sixth Buddhist Council

The biennial Sixth Buddhist Council was held in 1954 in Burma at Kaba Aye, Yangon. It was held under the auspices of the Burmese government and chaired by the then Prime Minister, U Nu.

The Council commemorated 2,500 years of Buddhism. In the tradition of past Buddhist councils, the main purpose of the Sixth Council was to preserve the teachings and practices of the Buddha as understood in the Theravada tradition in Burma, India, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Nepal, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Pakistan.

Conclusion

The Four Buddhist Councils mark important points in Buddhist history. In the first Buddhist council, the Buddha’s sayings (suttas) and monastic discipline or rules (Vinaya) were preserved.

The Second Buddhist Council ended in failure, and Buddhism split into two parts, i.e., Thaviras and Mahasanghikas. At the Third Buddhist Council, all of the Buddha’s teachings were presented, and the final version of the Tripitakas, known as the Abhidhamma Pitaka, was completed.

As a result of the Third Council, Emperor Ashoka sent Buddhist missionaries to teach the Dhamma to various places in Asia. In the Fourth Council, Buddhism was divided into two sects, namely Mahayana Buddhism and Hinayana Buddhism. The main product of the Fourth Council was an authentic commentary on the Tripitaka, known as the Vibhasha Shastra. The literary contribution of the Buddhist councils is thus remarkable in the history of Buddhism.

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