buddhist councils_law_a manual of buddhist historical traditions

8/7/2019 Buddhist Councils_Law_A Manual of Buddhist Historical Traditions

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I - - - - - --- !J t~~' I DELHI UNlVERSITYt LIBRARY

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D ELH I U NIV ER SITY L lBRAR Y


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A MANUAL OF BUDDHISTH IS TOR ICA L TR AD IT ION S

(SADDHAMMA-SANGAHA)


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A MANUAL OF BUDDHISTHISTORICAL TRADITIONS

( S A DDHAMMA - SANGAHA )

fRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH FOR THE nas f TI'\IIEB Y

B IMA LA CH U R N LAW , PH.D., M .A ., B .LFellow. Royal ASiatic Society of Bengal. Fellow. Royal GeographicalSociety. Honorary Correspondent, Arclllleological SUl\ey of IndiaAuthor, Some KsalflYB Tribes of Ancient india, Life and Work

of BuddhBgltosa, A History of Pal. Literature, etc , etc

DLH . UNIV. L IBRY . SY STEMP U B L IS H ED B Y T H E

U N IV E R S IT Y OF CA LCU T TA1941


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P R IN TED IN llooD IAPRTNTIID AND PUBLISEED BY BEtrPIll>DRALAL BAl>I!RJEB AT THII

C AL CU T T A U N IV E R SIT Y PRESS, 4B , B AZR A R OA D, B ALL YGU NO ll, CA LCU TT . .

C U Pre8s-Rpg No 134fB-M&jI.1!I41-1I.


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CONTENTSI'AOIT.

Introduction 1CHAPTER I

Tile Fast Gre a t COUDCII 19CHAPTER II

'I'he Second Council 37CHAPTER HI

The Tlurd Coun c i lCHAPTER IV

The Acceptance of the Cetiyapabbata-vihni a 46CHAP'I'ER V

The Fonrth Couneil

T'he Account of the Writing of ThreePitakas IIIBooks 61

CHAPTER VIIThe Account of the 'I'rauslatiou (If the

A Hh a k a th n on the Th r e e Pitakas G9


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V I CONTEN ' l ' ~CHAPTER VI I I

The A ccolln t of [be T ikas of tb e 'rlJ reePi takaa 83

CHAPTHR IXT h e A c c o u n t o f n i l t h e Books c o m p i l e d b yT h e r a E . 90

CHAPTER XThe A c c o u n t of the A d v a n t a g e s o f Wntll lg

th e Th ree P itakas ~5CHAPTER X I

T h e A c c o u n t o f t h e A d v a l l t a g e s o f H e a l i n gth e P re ac hin g o f t h e N orm 100

T h e C o l o p b o n 1 3 6Inde~ 139


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A M a n u a l o f B u d d h i s t H i s t o r i c a l T r a d i t i o n s

I NTRODUCT IONT he S ad d h am m a -S am g ah a w lr ich 18 a n on -

ca n om ca l P ah w ork of a la te r d a te h a s b ee n ed ite din R om an ch a ra c te rs for th e firs t t im e byN . S ad d h an an d a of Cey lon an d p u h h sh ed In th eJou rn a l of th e P a li T ex t S oc ie ty for th e y e a r 1890 .Th IS wor k , a s i t s u t l e s u g g e s t s , IS a com pen d ium ofth e tra d ition a l h is tory of B u d d h ism . rtf! colophonm en tion s th a t th e b ook w as com p ile d b y th e raD h am m ak rtn of Cey lon a t a g re a t m on a s te ry c a lle dL an k a ram a b u ilt by th e g re a t k in g P a rn m a rs ja .

~h e S add h am m a-S am gu h a p re se n ts u s w tth a .b are ou tlin e o r e c c l e s i a s u c a l an d lite ra ry h is toryof B u d d lu sm d raw n u pon t r a d iu on a l m a te r ia Is .It IS a h i s t o r i c a l re cord of th e p a r t p la y ed byBuddh i sm 10 Cey lon . T h e ln s ton c a l v a lu e of th isw ork is e n h an ced by th e inclus ion of th e a ccou n tof tw o B ud d ln s t Cou n c ils h e ld in Cey lon d u r in gth e re ig n s of D ev an am p iy au ssa an d V a tta g iim lO l.A s reg a rd s th e th re e e a r lie r Cou n c ils h e ld III I nd i a ,i t s a c c ou n t dif lcrs ma t e n a l l y In s om e re s p e c tsfrom th ose fou n d in th e V tnayacuUavagga J m th ecom m en ta r ie s of B u d d b ag bosa , an d III tw o ea rh e rP ah ch ron ic le s , th e Dipa v am3a a n d th e Mah a v am s a . T h IS w ork a lso p re se rv e s v e ry fa r th fu l


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~ BUDDHIST HISTORICAL TRADITIONSr e c o rd s of th e v a n ou s B u d d h is t e s ta b h s hm e n ts o fC e y lon , a n d I t a ls o c on ta in s Im p o r ta n t d a ta fo rth e c h ron o log y of Buddhist kmgs of India andCey l o n . A c a r e fu l s tu d y o f this b ook W Ill s u re lyg iv e u s - ghmpses into th e h is to ry of C e y lon a n d h e rconnection WIt h India. A fte r th e third BuddhistCou n c il w a s ov e r , B u d dh is t nnssionenes w e r e s e n tb y thera Moggahputtatissn to d iffe r e n t c ou n tr te sfo r th e p rop a g a t ion o f B u d d lu sm It w a s d u r in gth e r e ig n of D ev a n am p ry a ti s s a th a t thera Mah i n d aa t th e mstauce 0 1 th em . M og g a h p u t ta tr s a a w e n t toC e y lon a n d W Ith th e k in g s ' h e lp a n d p ro te c t ionin trod u c e d B u d d h ism in to th e Is la n d of Ln n k f Inth rs Is la n d th e o rd e r o f b h ik k h u n rs w a s fir s te s ta b h s h e d b y 'I 'h e r i S a n g b a rm t t ia w h o w e n t toC e y lon W Ith th e B o-tr e e a n d c on v e r te d th e Qu e e nA n u li i w ith b e r m a n y fem a le c om p nm on s T h ea c c ou n t , h ow e ve r , IS w h olly b a s e d u p on th e Maha-vamsa. T h is b ook b r ie fly d e a ls W I th B u d d h a -g h os a 's h fe and h IS v is i t to C e y lon d u n n g th et im e o f M ah lin J .m a a dm itte d ly on th e b a S IS of th eO u la v am aa . T h e on ly n ew p o in t re c o rd e d lS t h a tB u d d h a g b os a m e t B u d d h a d a tta on h 18 w a y toC e y lon . T h e a u th o r d oe s n o t s e em to b e aw a re ofth e fa c t th a t B u d d h a g h os a h im s e lf s ta te s III th ec o lop h on of hIS Vinaya Commentary th a t h eu n d e r took a n d c om p le te d th is w ork d u rm g th e21s t y e a r o f th e r e ig n o f k in g S m p a ia of C e y lon .T h IS w ork fu r th e r g Iv e s a n a c c ou n t o f th e c om -p ila t ion o f th e P a li c om m en ta n e s a n d s u b -


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INTRODUCTION 3commentaries of the three P I takas including otherwell-known Pah works b y the theras, It alsoIuunahes us with valuable information of Maha-vibara, the Abhayaginvihara, the Oenyagirivibera,the Lo h a p a s a d a , the ' I ' h u p a r ama , the Mah am e g h a -vanavihara, the Pubbarama, and other ImportantBuddhist estabhshments IIICeylon. The last twochapters strike the keynote of the SaddhammaS am g a h a . ThIS book consists of eleven chaptersWhICh are eummansed below.

The S ad d h amma - S amga l l a is written III anelegant and simple language. It belongs to theclass of manuals and as such It IS a mixture o fprose and poetry In most cases the prose por t i ons e r v e s only a s an exp l au a t r on of th e poetry por t ion .The author has bo r r owe d VelY largely from theactual texts of th e D i p a u am s a , the Mah a v am s a tthe Atthakathl i a n d o th e r \\ e ll-k n ow n P a h w ork sWhICh are SImply referred to as Por i in i i or ancientanthon ties Th I S m a n u a l contains many dis-courses common to the Mahiibodhwa1'f ! .Sa, tLeGandha l JU111Sa , the Si isana tamsa a n d the l i k e .

CHAPTER I After hIS enlightenment tbeBuddha l iv e d for forty-five years. When he badattained the Panmbbana, seven hundred thousandbhikkhus assembled there Thera Mabakassaps,recollecting the words spoken b y Subhadda, feltthe necessity of reciting the Dhamma and theV i n a y a . FIv e h un d re d arbants w e re s e le c te d inorder to hold a Coun c i l . After the rainy season,


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4 BUDDHIST HISTORICAL TRADITIONSa httle more than three months after the Pa r i -n ibb i ina of the Buddha, tln s COUDCIl was held a tRajagaba Thera Mahakassapa who was voted tothe chair, took the preacher s seat, and askedquestions touching the Vinaya and the Dhamma.Upah recited the Vinaya, and Koanda theDhamma. The five hundred arhants recited to-gether the texts In tbe manner IIIwlneh they werepresented and adopted. The work of the FIrstCouncil was fimsbed after seven months, and thecollecuon of the Vmaya and the Dhamma, com-piled by them, came to be known as theratradinon.Itmay be noted here that according to this

account, the three Pitakas with all their existingbooks and dlVlSIODS were recited III the FIrstBuddhist COllnCII . It IS , however, clear that theauthor bas mtenuonally made a nnstake here bystatmg that all the seven books of the A bhuilunnma-P1 , a ka were also recited III tlns Counc i l ,'I'his statement is III dnect contradictron to thestatement (Ch Ill), that It was 10 tbe ThirdCouncil thai Thera Moggaliputtanssa expoundedKathavatthu III order to put a stop to all dissen-tient Views. The remaimng portion of thischapter IS devoted to an elaborate dreeussron onthe manifold division of the Buddha's word. Thischapter contains nothmg original.

CHAPTI.!lR II A century after the Panmbbanaof the Buddha, the VajJiputtaka bhikkhus of


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INTRODUCTIONVesali promulgated the Ten Points which werenot enjoined upon the bhikkhus. Thera Yasa,who was then staYlDg at the Mahavana, in theI{l1tagiira Hall heard It, and apprebendmg thedanger IIIthe Sasana, the bhikkhus assembled.In order to hold a Council he selected only sevenhundred arhants out of one thousand and twelvehundred blnkkhus who gathered there m a con-ference. These arhants met at Viilukarama.Thera Babbakarm, questroned by Thera Revata,recited the Vmaya, and the dispute on the TenPoints was set at rest. The bhikkhus then recitedthe entire Dhamma and Vmaya. This SecoudCouncil was concluded after eight months.

CHAPTER III Two hundred and eighteenyears after the Pannibbsna of the Buddha, sixtythousand heretics became envious of the gamand honour of the bhi kkhus, and they, too,cutting oITtheir hall'S and putting on the yellowrobes, went about the viharas, disturbed theblnkkhus 111 their practices, and created nuisancein the Sasana. So the bhikkhus were unable toboJd the Uposatha ceremony for seven years.In order to purge the Sasaua of Its blemishes,kmg Asoka called the blnkkhus in an assemblyin the Asokarama under the presidency of 'I'heraMoggahputtatissa, Then did the king question oneby one on the doctrine of the Buddha. The hereticsexpounded then wrong doctrines and the kingAsoka caused them to be expelled from the Order.


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6 BUDDIDST HISTORICAL TRADITIONSWhen th e S a s a n a w a s th u s p u r ifie d , th e b h ik k b u s )m e t a n d h e ld th e U p osa th a c e rem on y . O u t ofS Ix ty h u n d re d th ou sa n d b h ik k h u s w ho a s s em b le dth e re , T h e ra M og g a h p u tta 'I 'i s s a s e le c te d on ly on eth ou s a n d le a rn e d a n d e xp e r t b h ik k h u s IIIord e r toho ld a council, T h e Thud Cou n c il w a s a c c ord -m g ly h e ld a t th e A sok a ram a . I b . t h a t cong r ega -n on T h e ra M og g a h p u tta 'I 'i s s a e xp ou n d e d th eKa t h a . v a t t h u , re fu t m g th e d is s e n tie n t v iew s. T h eb ln k k h u s re c i te d th e D h am m a a n d th e V m ay a ,a c c o rdm g to th e p roc e d u re a d op te d in th e fir s ttw o Oounc i l s . T h e w ork of t h iS Coun c il w asfinished a f t e r Dille mon t h s .

CHAPTER IV A fte r th e T h ird Counc i l w a sov e r , tnisstonanes w e re s e n t by T h era M og ga lip u t taT ls s a In b a n d s e a c h c ou s is tm g of fiv e T h e ra s tov a n ou s p la c e s to e s ta b lis h th e B u d d h a 's re lig ion .T h e ra M a jjh n n t ik a w a s s e n t to Kasmira a n dGan d h ru a , T h e ra M ah a d e v a to M a ln s am an d a la ,'I 'h e ra R a k k ln ta to V a n a v a s i, T h e n . D h am m a -rs k k lu ta to A p


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INTRODUC'lION '1fou r th e ra s a n d a s am a n e ra n am e d S um a n a , a n ds ta y e d on th e M is s a k a m ou n ta in . On th a t d a y ,In L a n k a , a fes t iv i ty c a lle d J e t th am iila took p la c e .K In g D e v a n am p iy a ti s s a , c am e ou t o f th e C lty w i tha retinue of fo r ty th ou s a n d m e n , a n d re a c h e d th eM is s a k a m ou n ta in . A t a p la c e c a lle d th eA m b a tth a la , h e m e t T h e ra M a ln n d a , W h e n th e yh a d c om e to k n ow e a c h o th e r , th e y h e ld c on v e r-s a t ion . T h e th e r a r e la te d th e C llla h a t th ip a d op am aS u tta , a n d th e k in g w ith Iu s fo r ty th ou s a n d m e nc am e u n to th e three R e fu g e s . T h e re a fte r th eth e r a r e la te d th e Samacitta S u t ta n ta a t a g re a ta s s em b ly o f g od s , a n d c on v e r te d m a n y d e v a s ,n a g u s , e tc . T h e th e ia , u iv i te d b y km g D ov a n am -piyanssa, e n t e r e d the C Ity a n d th e p a la c e , a n dre la te d th e Petavatrhu, th e V im a n n v a tth u , a n dth e B a c c a s am y u tta , T h e km g built t i le M a h av i-h a r a a t th e Mah am eg b a v au u -pm k , a u d d e d ic a te dI t to th e O rd e r . N in e th ou s a n d a n d fiv e h u n d re dp e r s on s w e re c on v e r te d a t th a t t im e T h e k in gt h e n bu i l t fo r th e Or d e r th e O eu ya p ab b a tn v ih a r aw h ic h th e O rd e r a c c e p te d . A rit th n W ith Iu s fifty -fiv e b ro th e r s r e c e iv ed Pal iua j j i i [ rom tb e t ho ra , a n db e c a m e arahats

CHAPl'ER V Km g De v u n a r p p i y a u s s a t h e nc a u s e d th e fig h t c o lla r -h on e o f th e B u d d h a to b elaid d o w n In th e 'I 'h n p a ram a , a n d m a n y p e op lere c e iv e d P a b b a jja on th a t o c c a s ion . S u b s e qu e n tlya b ra n c h of a B e -t r e e (ta k e n {10m India) w a sp la n te d w ith d u e c e rem on y , a n d on th a t d a y , th e


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8 BUDDHIST HISTORICAL TRADITIONSqueen AnUla with her many female companionsreceived Pabbajja from 'I'hert Bamgharmtta. T h eking's nephew (SIster'S son) AflttlH1, too, WIthfive hundred men received Pabbajja at that timeUnder tbe direction of Thera Mahinda, k ingDevanampryatisaa then arranged for a council ofthe blukkhus, a n d b u il t a great b a ll in the Th i l p a -ramo. for the purpose. Many bhikkhus assembledIn the ' I ' h u p a r nma . Thera Mahmda took hISseat f a cm g the south, Thera Anttha w a s seatedon the preacher's seat facing the north.Sixty-etght theras headed by Tbera Mahmda wereseated round the preacher's seat The kmg'syounger brother Thera Man t abbayu with f ivehundred blnkkhus was also seated round thepreachers seat. The iemarnrng blukkhus uiclud-m g the k i n g and then attendants were seated IIItheir respective seats. Asked by 'I'hera Malnnda,Thera Arittha recited the Vmaya. In tlns way,they expounded th e Dbamma and the V i n a y a , andheld th e Fourth Cou n c il . 'I 'h e work of t l n sCouncil began on. the first great pavsrona-day inthe month of K n tt ik a , and ended III an indefinitetime, '

CHAPTER VI Three hundred seventy-six yearsafter the Parunbbana of the Buddha, Dutthaga-nnm-abhaya became the king of Lanka. He builtthe Maucavattr-vihara, the nine-stoned Lohapa-sadu, and the Great Thiipa, one after the other,and duly consecrated them, He reigned for twenty.


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INT"RODl'('TTON 9four years at Anuradhapura, and then died. Fifty-seven years after the foundation of the GreatThiipa, Vattagammi-abbaya reigned in Lanka.This king built the Abhayngmvthara and a greatCetiya and dedicated them to the Order of bluk-khus headed by Thera Mahatissa. Thereafter theOrder of bbikkhus felt the necessrty of puttingdown the three Pitakas and the Atthakatha. inwntmg, The bhikkhus expressed I t to the king,and the king, at their request, provided them witha hall and other necessary articles for the purpose.The order of blnkkhus chose many thousandlearned theras IIIorder to bold a council, Afterrehearsing the D h a mm a and the Vmaya accordingto the procedure adopted IIIthe previous councils,the Order of bhikkhus caused the three Pitakns,with the text and the Attbakatha, to be writtendown in books from what had been orally handeddown, and held it as the FIfth Council. Thewntmg of the three Pitukas was completed III oneyear.

CHAPTERVII FIve hundred and sixteen yearsafter the writing of the three Pitakas, Mahanamabecame the king of Lanka. At that time, aBrahmans youth was born m the neighbourhoodofthe Bo-terrace IIIthe MIddle country of Jambu-dipa. Skilled m all the sciences and versed in thethree Vedas, he went all around Jambudipa as agreat disputant. He then came to a vihara, andthere he was met b) Thew Revata ,,110 convinced

2--13d .1B


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10 BUDDHIST ffISTOUlCAL TRADITIONShim of the superiority of the Buddha's doctrine,and converted him to the Buddhist faith. TheThem then taught him the three Pijakas. As hewas as profound in hIS ' ghosa ' or eloquence as theBuddha, t h e y conferred on him the appellation ofBnddhaghosa or the VOIce of the Buddha. In thatvihara, he composed an original work called the~anodaya, and wrote a commentary on theDhammasangani, called the Atthnsalmt. Underthe direction of Thera Revata, he started forCeylon to study the Siuhalese Attbakatha, andcompile a Pantta-atthakatha or general comment-ary on the three Pitakas, On Ins way, he reachedNagapattana, and there he boarded a slup. He,on lns way, met Thera Buddhadatta on the greatocean, and held conversation with him. Hereached the island of Lanka 1D the reign of KingMahanama, and there at the Mahapadbaas HallIIIthe Mabav r h a r a at An u r a d h a p u r a , he met TheraSamghapala. There he hstened to the Attha-katila and the Theravada, became thoroughly C011 -vinced of the true meaning of the Buddha's doc-trine, and then sought the permission of the Orderof b h i k k b u s to translate the Atthalmthii.. ' I 'heOrder of bhikkhus, for the purpose of testing hie;qualifications, gave h im only two gathas out ofwhich he composed the commentary called theV r s u d d l nm a g g a . The gods rendered that bookmvisible. He recomposed a second copy, andthis, too, did the gods make invisible. When he


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I : t - . TRODUCT ION 11r e c om p os e d a th u d c op y , th e g od s re s to re d th eo th e r tw o c op ie s a lso B u d d h a g h os a , ta km g th eth re e c op ie s , p r e s e u te d th em to th e O rd e r o fb h ik k h u s , 'I 'h e y fou n d th e th re e c op ie s s am e ina n re s p e c ts , a n d rejoiced a t In s s u c c e s s . T h e yg a v e h im th e te x ts o f th e th r e e P ita k a s a n d a ls oth e B u ih a le s e c om m e n ta n e s , B u d d h a g h os a tooka ll th o s e b ook s , a n d ta k in g u p In s r e s id e n c e Inh eP a d h a n a g h a r a on th e sou t h e rn s id e o f th e M a h a -vihara, t r a u s la tc d a l l th e Sinhalese c om m e n ta r ie s o fth e th re e P ita k a s a n d of th e e n t i r e 'I 'h e ra v u d a in toMa g a d h i (Pall). T b e re a fte r , tb e ob je c t o f hISmission being fu lfi l le d , h e re tu rn e d to Jambudlpato worship th e g r e a t Be-tree.

CHAPTER V I I I SIX h u n d re d a u d e ig h ty -th re ey e a r s a fte r th e tr a n s la t ion o f th e A tth a k a th a . o f th et h r e e Pitakas, Parakkamabahu b e c am e a sovereign-k in g o f L a n k a . O n e th ou s a n d on e h u n d re d a n dfifty -fou r y e a r s a fte r th e re ig n o f V a tta g am lm a L ha ) a ,b e fou n d th e S a s a n a d e c a y in g U n d e r th e Ie a d c r s ln po f T h e ra M a h a k a s s a p a o f U d um ba ra g ln , h e c a u s e dm a n y h u n d re d b ln k k h u s to b e e x p e l le d from th eO rd e r , a n d m a d e th e Susana pu r i f i e d . He bu i l tm a n y viharas a n d cehyas at Jetavana, Pubba,r am a , D a k k hm a l a m a , U t t a r a r nmu , V e l u v a n a ,K ap ila v a tth u , I s ip a ta u a , Ku s i nm u , a nd L a n k an la k a ,H e th e n e r e c te d a g re a t U p os a th a H a l l h a v in g m n es ton e s a n d on e th ou s a n d c om pa r tm en ts , d e c o ra te dw ith a tow e r , a n d r ic h IIIp am tm g s , a n d c r e e p e r -w o rk s . H e a d o rn e d H ie J e ta v a n a v ih a r a w ith row s


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l'~ 13UDDRl E . r IIISTORICAL TRADl'l'IONSof Be-trees, stupas, cells, buts, halls and beautifultanks and gardens. It was under his patronagethat tbe Order of blnkkhus beaded b y 'I'hei DMalnikassapa compiled 10 Magadh! the Attha-vaJ;l:Q.anaof the Attbakathiis of tbe Prtakas, Tbefollowing Attha vannanas (su b-commen taries) arementioned b y name :-1 Saratthadipani-Thc Atthavannaua of the

Samantapasadika, theAtthakatha of theVm a y a .

2 SarattbamaUlusa (I)-the AtthavannanD. of theSumangalavilasinr, theA tthakatha of theD r g h a -N i k a y a .

3 B a ra t th am a fiju s a (2)-t11e Attbav8J;l:Q.ana of thePapancasudant, theAtthakatha of theMaj j h ima -N i k s y a .

4 Salatthamafijusa (3)-the Atthavannana of theSfiratthappakasinI, theA tthakatba of theBamyutta-Nikaya.

5 Saratthamafijusii (4)-the Atthavannana of the1fanorathapiirani, theAttbakatha of tbeAnguttara-Nikaya.


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11'l"TRODuC'J ION 136 Paramntthappakasmt (l)-the Atthavannana

of the Atthasalml, theAtthakatha of theDhammasangaut.

7 Paramatthappakasini (2)-the Attbavannanaof the Bammoha-vino-danl, the Atthakatba ofthe Vlbhanga.

8 Paramattbappaknsmi (3)-the AtthavaQQanaof the Paramattha-dlpanl, the Atthakathaof the remaining fivebooks of the Abhi-dhamma-Prtaka,

TIns compilation of the sub-commentaries wascompleted in one year.

CHAPTER IX The text of the three Pitakascontains one thousand one hundred and eighty-threechapters, innumerable syllables and letters, Thewhole Atthakatha of the PItakas as expounded byBuddhaghosa, contains one thousand one hundredand sixty-three chapters, two lac mne nahutaseven hundred and fifty syllables, as well asninety-three lac and four thousand letters. TheTika of the three Pitakas contains SIX hundredand thirty-two chapters, one hundred andfifty-eighty thousand syllables as well as fiftyhundred and fifty-six thousand letters. Other


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14 BUDDHIST HISTORICAL TRADITIONSbooks, compiled by the theras, are then mentionedas follows :-

Book s1 Visuddhrmagga2 Kankhavitaranr,

Au t h o r s

IBuddhaghosaof theorAtthakathaPatimokkhs3 Khuddakasikkha Dhammasm4 Abhldhammavatara Buddhadatta5 Paramatthavinicchaya J Anuruddha6 Abhidhammattba- (in the city of Kafici-samgaha pura)7 Saccasarpkhepa8 Kbema9 Samghanandi10 Samgbanandi-Tika11 Riipasiddhi12 Abbidhanappadipika13 Jmalankara14 Jinacarits15 Paramatthamafijusa,

a 'fika of Visuddhi-magga

If) Vinayasamgaha

a disciple of theraKnanda

KbemaKaccayanaVimalabodhi andBrabmaputta.

BuddbappiyaMogg a l l a n aBuddharakkhitaMedhankaraDhammapsla

Sagaramati


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I~'IRODUCTION 15

17 Nissayatthakatbii, alVanJ;l.ana of Sacca-samkhepa r Mababodbi18 M uk b am a tta k a tb i i , a

V aJ ;u ; tana of Para-ma t t b a vm i c c b a y a J

27 A b ln d h am m a tta -samgaha-Ttka

28 Dbammapada-Attha-kathf

29 N etti p a k a r a n n30 Sarattbasftlini", a

vannana of S a c c a -samkhepa

CHAPTER X Thereafter the advantage ofwriting the three PItakas is related. The eigbty-four thousand units of Dlunnma, set up by the

19 Paramatthadipanl, avam;lana of V Im an a -Peta-vattbu

20 Bubodhalankara21 Vuttodaya22 Khuddakaslkkha-Tiku23 Sambuddhavannana24 Vinayavnncchaya25 Knnkhavitaranl-Tika26 Paramatthadlpani, an

A ttb a k a tb ii o f 'I'heri-g i i t h a

Dhammapala

1IamgharakklntaJ BuddhaslhaBuddhanagaDhammapala

A disciple of Sari-pu t t a

B u d d h a g h o s aKaccayanaA disciple of

Sariputta


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16 B"GDDHlST HIS'roRICAI, TRADITIONSBuddha, have b y themselves taken the place of theTeacher as eighty-four thousand self-born Buddhas.Each letter in the Pitakas should be considered ashaving merit equal to Buddha represeutation.Therefore, a WIse man should write down thethree Pitakas or cause them to be written down IIIa book, or in a memorial in honour of the D hmwm a .He who writes down the three Pitakas, fulfils allmeritonous deeds, and becomes free from allsufferings. He is reborn perfect in a higherlife, and prospers always in happiness, wealth,enjoyment, fame, and the rest. He g r owseverywhere and in all respects. Even he obtainsthe Smnb l l ddha l lOod and the most highest blissof N zbbi ina . Really speakmg, tins chapter setsforth the main purpose of this work namelygivmg encouragement to the transcription of thethree PItakas and the carvmg of Buddha'sImages. The source from which the verses arequoted as Buddha va cana cannot be traced.

CHAPTER XI The Sambuddbas have twofoldbody, one the glonous visible body I and theother the body of doctrine as preached by them.He who WIshes hIS own welfare and greatness,should respectfully bear the preaching of theNorm. He who honours, esteems, reveres andrespects the Norm is the person who honours,esteems, reveres and respects the Buddha.

The advantage of heanng the preaching ofthe Norm and of giving one's applause at the


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JNTRODUCTION ]7

time of so doing IS Illustrated by a few stones,a b r i e f summary IS given below

(a) Once the Buddha heard Thera Nandakapreaching the Norm and he shouted applauseas soon as the preaclnug ~ as over. Asked byThera. Nandaka, the Buddha replied that be baddone so out of hIS great vene ra t ion for the Norm.

(b ) A certain person, while w i t h Ins sevensons returning from the forest, heard a womansinging a song relatmg to birth, old age anddeath. They too, on reflection, realised the threethings, namely, Impermanence, III and non-sou],and attained the P a c c e k o b u d d h o h o o d . Thereafterthey became recluses, and went to a cave at thefoot, of the Nanda forest In the NorthernHImalayas.

(c ) Once the Buddha preached the Norm tothe inhabitants of Campaka. A frog made theBuddha's VOIce an object of Its thought, but itmet with Its death suddenly and was reborn III abIg celestial abode in the Tavahmsa heaven.

(d ) Once, at the eutr.mce of a cave, Sarrputtarepeated the Ablndbamma-Puaka. Five hundredbats hsteuod to Ins recital. They then passedaway without taking any food and were rebornIII heaven. They were again ] eborn 10 this worldas comrades and entering the Order, becamearahants, and reached Nibbnna.

(e ) In the Island of Sibulo, III a beautlfulvihnra, named Uddalolakn-vrhara, there h ved

3-134.48


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18 BUDDHIST HII:;fORIC.'\L TRADITIONSmany deer, pigs and the like. A deer of thathermitage, while going to the landing place todrink water, heard the thera preaching the Norm.Then struck by a hunter It died and was reborn10 the w o m b of the younger s i s t e r of TheraAbhaya, and afterwards obtained Arahantship.< f ) Once many merchants, desirous of goingto the island of Lanka, boarded a sea-gomg vessel.As the ship went on peacefully, a bhikkhu whoa c c om p a n i e d them, recited a por t ion from thescriptures. A great fish hstened to the blukkhu'srecitation, but later It was killed by the peopleon the landing place.

In consequence of Its hstening to the recita-tion of the Bhikkhu, it was reborn III a wealthyf am i l y in the Bohmi country. He was laterinitiated as a monk and afterwards attainedArabantship.

In the following pages an English rendenngof the text of Saddhamma-Sarpgaha bas beenattempted for the first time.


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Ho n o u r to th a t Exa lted On e, A r a ha n t, Bu ddhaS u p r emeCH A P T E R I

THE FIRST GREAT COUNCIL

1 H a v in g m a d e ob e is a n c e to th e B u d d h a ,th e D oc tr i n e a n d th e O rd e r-th e a b od e of v ir tu e -I wi l l p re s e n t c on c is e ly th e c om p e n d ium of tra d i-t ion a l h is to ry ofth e Good Fa ith .

2-3 H avm g com p le te ly w ip e d aw ay (s .e . ,rem ov e d ) th e ob s ta c le s b y v ir tu e of th e merit(a c qu ire d ) th rou g h s e rv ic e s d on e to th e T h re eJ ew e ls , a n d h a v in g a c c e p te d th e tra d it ion a la c c o un t s III th e c om m en ta n e s on th e th re e PitakasIn a ll th e ir b e a n n g s , th is IS c om p ile d b y a w is em a n for th e g row th of th e te a c hm g of th e L orda n d fo r In s p ir in g c on fid e n c e am on g th e cop y is ts ofth e th re e P ita k a s .

4 A tte n d y e , a ll g ood m e n , p re s e n t h e re ,b e in g w ill in g to h e a r , to th e p re s e n ta n on of th e" Com pe n d ium of tra d it ion a l h is to ry of th e GoodFa ith ," c om p le te a n d c le a r .

T o e xp la in th e m a tte r , th is is th e c on n e c te ds to ry .M ore th a n a h u n d re d th ou s a n d a e on s a n d fou r

asamkheyyas (c ou n tle s s a g e s ) a g o , w h e n ou r L ord ,s t i l l Bodhua t u i , h a d ob ta in e d th e p rop b e c y of


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2 1 1 B U J )D H l~T R J HTORWA r. 'I R ,AnITIONf'lthe ' I 'wen t y - Iou r Buddhas (Ill successron), a n dhad mustered equally all the ' I 'h i r ty Perfections,he reached the climax III Ius progress t owa rd sWIsdom.

Having hved for forty-five years after his en-hghtenment, formulated eighty-four thousand unitsof text, d eh v cie d to th e other shore countlessbeings from the difficult path of existence and f1l1-filled all the d u t i e s 01 a B u d d h a ull the o r dm a -t ion of Subhadda, th e Wanderer, be passed a w a yat Kusinura, lymg on the d e a t h - bed between theSal trees

To th is effec t sa td the AllC ten is5 "In olden times, the Great Hero, h a vm goffered homage to the twenty-four S am b u d d h a s ,Dipankara, and the rest, received hom the pro-phecy of h is (future) Bu d d h a h o o d

6 When he had fulfilled all Perfections, andbad reached the highest enlightenment, the sub-l im e B ud d h a Gotama, set free the wo r l d fromsuffenng 1

7 When he had accomphshed his du t i e sbefitting all Sambuddhas, and had reached thetranquil state, the GULde of tile World, passedaway on the bed of hIS Panmbbana.When the "Exalted One, tile Guide of the World,bad attained the Panmbbana, seven hur dredthousand blnkkhus assembled there, and the

I For veraes 56, lee Mal&i i l .


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ras FIRST GREA'r COUNCIL 21Venerable Elder Mahakassapa, senior of the con-gregauon, recollecung the wo r d s spoken, sevendays after the Exalted One h ad a tta in ed the Pan-mbbana, by S u b h a d d a , iniuated ID old age,addressed the b l n k k h u s thus: "}l'nends, w e-s h ou ld re c i te the D h a m m a and tbe Vmaya." Theblukkhus replied' "Reverend SIr, be pleased thento select the elder blnkkhus." Tben the VenerableMabiikassapa selected five hundred bhtkkhus whowere arahants, aud declared' "Fnends, spendingthe rainy season Ilt Rajagaha, we should recite tbeDhamma and the Vinaya."

To tiu e effec t sald th e .dn c ten ts :8 " Seven hundred thousand leading bbikkhuswere among them, the thera Mahakassapa was atthat time the senior of the congregation "1

9 Seven days after the Lord of the World,gifted With the Ten Powers, had attained theParnnbbana, (the the ra Mahiikassapa) recalled toIn s mmd the evil words of the aged Subhadda 2

10 To hold the Great Council the great Theraappointed to tlns end five hundred eminentbhikkhus who had overcome E . lDS 8

11 On the second day of the second monthof the rainy seasou, the blnkkhus met together inthat splendid h a l l I

1 lIfalliiLamsa, Cil III" 4 ..2 Cf tu, Ch III, v 63 Ib id . Cb III. v 94 IbId, Ch . IT T , v 26


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22 BUDDHIST HISTORICAL TRADITIONSNow, on the second day, the elder bhikkhus,

having finished their meals, getting ready withtheir robes and bowls, assembled IIIthe meeting-place. When the bhikkhus remained thus seatedthere, the thera. Mahakassapa addressed theblnkkhus : "Fnends, which one should we recitefirst, the Dhamma or the Vinaya ? "

The bhikkhus replied: "Reverend Maha-kassapa, the Vmaya means the life of the Buddha'sown. If the Vmaya lasts, the Order will endure.Therefore we should recite the Vmaya first."

Making whom the leader should Vmaya berecited P

"The Venerable Upah," (they) replied.The thera Mabakassapa chose hnnself to a sk

questions coucernmg the Vmaya, and the theraUpah hnnself agreed to answer them. Then theVenerable Upah rose from his seat, arranged hISupper robe over ODeshoulder.' Paying homage tothe elder bhikkhus, and sIttmg ill the Preacher'sseat, he took hold of a fan, mlaid with IVOr).Then the Venerable }Iahakassapa., seated in thethera's seat, asked the Venerable Upah :

" Friend, where was the first ParaJika rulepromulgated ? "" At Vesali, reverend Sir."

c c WIth reference to whom ?"HWrth reference to Sudmna, Kalandaka's son."

Ie Ithe left


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THE FIR.S'l GR.EA'f COUNCIL 23II In respect of what? ..,r In respect of sexual intercourse.' IThereafter the venerable Mahakassapa asked

the Venerable Upah about the subject-matter,source, person, enactment, supplementary enact-ment, offence, and innocence as to the firstParii.jika rule.

Just as to the first (Parii.]Ika rule) so as to thesecond, third, and fourth, (Mahakassapa) askedabout their subject-matter ... innocence, the theraUpah answered the questions as they were put tohim Thereupon they arranged the Collectionthus: rr Let these four Parii.Jlka. rules constitutethe Pi i r i i J tka Section.' They arranged thethirteen Samghad i s e sa rules under ' The Sectionof the 'I'lnrteen,' the two disciphnary rules underthe secuon of the An~y1 ta ; the thirty disciplmaryrules under that of N Issagg ~ya-Pl iCLt t lya, theninety-two d i s c r p lma ry rules under that ofPi i c1 t t i y a ; the four discrphuary rules under thatof PiLt~dl '8anlya (those belonging to confession);the seventy-five d i s c t p l i n a r y rules under that ofSckhiya; and the seven rules under that ofAdhtkarana- lwmat l l f l 1 Thus they made the Oollec-non ol toe 1i Iahabtbhanga.

In the B lllkkh llfJ ,i- V t bh a n g a , they arranged theeighteen disciplinary rules under the section ofPiiraJlka, the seventeen rules under r The Section

1 For these terms a full dlBMl8S11>ll nfonnd ID B. C Law's His t o r yof Pall LlteratUf'6, Vol I, l1P. 5160


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24 DUDDHIST HISTORICAL '1RADITION:.:iof the Seventeen,' thirty rules under that ofN ls sa g g t y a -P i ic ith y a , one hundred and S I x t ,Y - S I Xrules under that of Pi i c t t t t ya , the eight rules underthat of Pi i t idesan tya (those belonging to con i e s s ton ) ,the seventy-five rules under that of Sekh tya , andthe seven rules under that of l 1dh lkara ' { ta - l lama tha .Thus they made the Collection of the BluHhuni-V & bh an g u. In tlus way they also made theKhandaka s and the PaHv i i r a .1

Thus the two V tbhanga s , the Khandu l c a sJand th e Pan v i i r a m ak in g u p the Cullection of th eVinaya-Pitaka, the thera Mahakassapa questioned,and the t he ra Upali answered. At the close ofquestions and answers, the five hundred a r a h a n t srepeated together the Col lec t ion in the samema n n e r as I t was adopted. When the Ool lec t ionof the Vinsya was completed, the great earthquaked.

Then laying aside the fan, inlaid with I v o r y ,and COIDlDg down from the preacher's seat, thevenerabie thera Upah paid homage to the elderbhikkhus, and took the seat previously assignedto him.

T o ih u effec t s au l th e A n c ien ts :12 " The great theca (Mabakassapa) laid on

lnmself (the task) of asking questions t ouch ingthe Vmaya and thera Upah (was ready) to explain.

I ' I ' IIlS dots D ot tally With the e a r lie r a c c ou u t fither In the (lI11atagga. XI or In tl e Sumallgalavlliismi. I


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THE FmST GREAT OOUNCIL 2513 Sittmg m the thera's seat, the former

asked the latter the questions touchmg the Vmaya ;and the latter, seated in the preacher's seat,expounded (the matter).

14 And as the best master of the Vinaya.expounded each (clause) m turn, all (the bhikkhus)knowing the custom, repeated the Vmaya afterhim." 1

Then having made the Collection of theVinaya, the venerable Mahakassapa wished tomake the Col l ec t ion of the D h a m m a , and asked thebhrkkhus : "In making the Oollec t ion of theDhsmma, making whom the leader should theD h a m m a be recited?" The b l n k k h u s replied:"The thera Ananda."

Then the venerable Mah a k a s s a p a chose h im s e l fto ask quesnons conoermng the Dhamma, and thet h e r a AnaDda h im s e l f agreed to answer them.The venerable Xnand.1 rose f rom Ius seat, andarranged h16 upper robe over one (i.e., the left)shoulder. Paying homage to the elder b h r k k h u sand sittmg m the preacher's seat, he took hold ofthe fan, inlaid With ivory. The thera Mahs.kassapa, seated IIIthe theta's seat, questioned thethera Ananda ooucermng the Dhamma .

"Friend Ananda, wh e r e was tb e BrahmaJiila ispoken? "1 Molla"lIm.a, Cb lIT, v , 3i,33.Z Digha, I, pp 1-46.

4-1844B


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26 BUDDHIST HISTORICAL 'rRADITIONS"Reverend Sir, midway between Ra]agaha

and Nii.landa-in the king's garden-house atAmhalatthika. "

" WIth refere-nce to whom? "T, WIth reference to S u p p i y a the mendicant

and his pupil Brahmadatta."N ow the venerable Mahakassapa also asked

the venerable Ananda the source and person as tothe BrahmaJiila Butta.

Thereupon (Mahekassapa) asked: t, FnendAn,mda, where was the Sama1i1iaphala 1spoken? IIand so on.

"Reverend Sir, at Rajagaha, at Jtvaka'smango-grove. "

., To whom? " To A]ataqattu, son of Vaidehr."Now the venerable Mahakaasapa asked the

venerable Ananda the source and person as to theSiimaiiiiaphala Butta.

In this way, they rehearsed the D i g h a -N t k a y aeomprising thirty-four suttas beginnmg withBm hm a i n l a . Saymg" Let this be called theDigha -N th"iiya," they entrusted It to the care ofthe venerable Xnanda, and spoke thus : "Frlend,please recite It among your followers."

'I'hereafter they rehearsed the MaJJhmza -N i k i i y aoonsistmg of one hundred and fifty-two suttasbegmnmg with Mulapanyiiya and entrusted It to

1 Digha, I, p p . 47.86,


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THE FIRST GREAT COUNCIL 27th e c a r e o f th e fo llow e r s of B a r ip u tta , th e c a p ta inof th e D h am m a a n d s p ok e th u s ' HP le a s e p ro te c tit."

The r e a f t e r t h e y r e h e a r s e d th e Smnyu t fa .N tk i i yacontammg s e v e n th ou s a n d s e v e n h u n d re d a n d sixty-tw o suttas begmnmg with Ogha t a r a1 J . a a n d e n tru st-e d I t to th e c a re of th e th e ra Mahnk a a s a p a a n ds p ok e th u s : "R e v e re n d B Ir , p le a s e re c i te iii a m o n gy ou r a dh e re n ts ."

Th e r e a f t e r t h e y r e h ea r s e d th e Angu t t a ra N t1c i i y aoompnsiug n in e th ou s a n d fiv e h u n d re d a n d :fifty -s e v e n s u tta s b e g in m u g w ith C~t t apaTLy l idana a n de n t r u s t e d it to th e c a r e of th e th e r a A n u ru d d h a ,and spokethus: "Please recite it among youra d h e r e n t s . "1

Having th e r e a fte r r e h e a r s e d th e Kh u d d a k a -Ntkaya (sm a ll d is c ou r s e ), divided mto f i f t eend iffe re n t t r e a t i s e s ) to W It, Khl lddaka-pa tha .D ham nw p a da , U diin a , L tiu u ita ka , Su ttam p lU a ,V m ziin a v a tl1w , P eta ia i thu , Thera g a tlli i , Thc r ig a th ii ,J ii ta l.a , N u idesa , Paiuambhid, J p adiilla , Buddha -V a l 1 l S a , a n d C a r l y i i p t t a k r t , th e y p u t It (th e w ho lec o lle e u on o f suttas) d ow n , c a l lm g I t th e SutianiaPuak .

Havmg thereafter rehearsed the seven di:fferent(a b h id h nm m a ) t r e a t i s e s , to "it, Dh am r n a s a n g am ,V ~bha n g a , D hii t1 l1 .a th ii , P u g g a la p a lii ia tt i , K a th ii-v a t th u , Ya m a lc a a n d P o i t h n n a , t h e y p u t i t (th e

J C I SumllilgIJ11J",liiBI"i, I


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THB FIH.~'1' GREA'l.' COUNCIL 29How by way of essence is it one ?All that the Exalted One spoke, by way of

admomtion or contemplation, to the gods, roen,nagas, yakkhas, and the rest, for forty-five yearsextendmg from the time of Ins g:llmng the highestwisdom up to hIS attamment of the Panmbbanawithout leaving any residium fOI future existence,have only one essence, namely, the essence ofemancipation, Thus by w ay of essence It IS one

How by way of D h am m a and V maya IS Ittwofold?

The Vmaya-Pijaka means Vm a y a , and theremaimng words of the Buddha constitute Dhamma.Thus b y w a y of D h a m m a and Vm a y a It is two-fold.

How by way of f i rs t , middle, and last IS Itthreefold?

Herem"L o n g I en du red the (,1I(I('s o f reb ir th ,Seeld ll(j bu t. p n d m g n o t lh e t n ch i iec i ,Rein rd: c o n tm u a l IS con i lIt lla l ]Ja inB'l l t nolV lwL'c I r~pled alee (udufeet 1BehoZr l, tho u sha ll n {)t bu ild the ho u se aqam,Broke 01(' th y b e am s , th y p u u u i d e des t royed .N ow to Ntbbl ina 1 lia s m y m n u l u t t nmedA ltd n ow Inm e a ll C1QUllg IS ((eslJoyed." 2

1 Vl san l . h i i r u - I t meana anmbrlatron,2 D h a mm a p a d a , vV 16364,J i i t ak l l T IJ ' ,dana Ka t h i i , p 76. For Ina-

a la h oD , s e e T he E ; rp o 8 1 to r, p 22 C f P s o f Ih e B reth r en , v . 1St (whlohe ad e d lffe re D tly ) , R h y s DaV I d a , B uddh Is t B Ir th S to rie" 10 3 f.


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30 DUDDHISl' HISrORICAL TRADITIONSThese were the first words of the Buddha. Some

say: "In the Khandllal.a (the Buddha) uttered averse containing the song of ecstacy, namely, L o .' to hen a p p eltr tr u e do c tr in e to th e snuu,' 1

and these were th e first words of the Buddha." B u tbe it known that this verse coutams only the f:,on~of ecstacy, produced (in the Buddha's nnnd) on theoccasion of his attaming to the state of omniscienceon the first d.1Yof the lunar fortnight, and reflect-inJ on the mode of causal relations with insknowledge mixed with joy .

That which was spoken at the time of thePerinibbana, namely,

If Hearken now J bhikkhus, I tell you: c ond i -tioned things are subject to decay; work out yoursalvation with diligence," ~"JShis last word.

Between these rwo (e~ems) all that were s pok e n(b y the Buddh 1] form his middle sayings. TIm",b y \t" lY ~ ) [ first, middle, .md l ist it Is thr~fo!J.

H xw by \,ay of P I.ta k a s is it threefold?J .n the words of the Buddha are dirided indeed

i n to three p u ts : th e Y im Y ::l-P i t3 k .:l . Sutra-Pitaka.and Abhidhtmma-Pitaka,

T ,) tki .~ :fff(t Mid !l~. t ' [c imts:11 [0 them. by the \-ioala.-Pi~.lkais mesa:the P i :'i r i.j!k l g e - c tio n . the P.lcittiY337 the: V,b1i! l . l i ' j , l

1 5.


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32 BUDDHIST HISTORI(,AJ~ TRADITIONSH ow by w ay of N ik a y a s is it fiv e fo ld ?T h e re a re fiv e Nikayas, to wit, th e Diqha, th e

Ma J j h i m a , th e S amy u t t a , th e Angu t t a ra a n d th eK1zuddaka .

To th is effec t sa id the An c 'l.en ts .26 "E xc lu dm g th e fou r N ik a y a s b e gm m n g

with th e Digha, th e re s t of th e B ud d ha 's word ISth e Khuddaka . " 1

T h u s , b y w ay of N Ik i1ya . It IS fiv e fo ld . H owby way of Angas (types) is It nmefold ?

All the words (of the Bu d d h a ) are classified intonme t y p e s , to WIt , Bu tta , G ey ya , V ey ya ka ra 'l').a , G a th a,Ud t i n a , luwitoka, Ju ta ha , Abbhu ta , a n d Vedal la .

,t H e re in , th e d u a l (Su tta -) V 'l.bha ng a, Nuldes,Khandhaka s , P a n o i n a , a n d th e re s t, th e Manga l a -su t ia , Ra ta n a su tta , N nla ho su t: , T u o a ta ka su tta o fth e Su t ta -N1 ,p i i t a , and oth e r w ord s of th e T a tl ia -gata bearing the name of S u tta s h ou ld be r e g a r d e das Su t ta . A ll th e S u tta s w ith v e rs e s sh ou ld b eund e r s t ood as, Gey y a . In particular, all th e c h a p -ters w ith v e r s e s III th e Sam ,yu tta NLka ya formGey y a . T h e entire Abl l 1 ,dhamma P1 t aka , Suttaswithout v e rs e s , a n d o th e r w ord s of th e B u d d h a n otincluded in th e eight ty p e s s h ou ld b e u n d e rs toodas Veyy l i 7~aTana , or eXpOSI t IOn . T h e Dh emme -pada~ the Theraga that the The1Igl i thl i , those p J e c e sIIIth e Su t ta -N~pa ta n o t c a lle d S u tta a n d e n ti r e ly

1 SumangalaVI/a8Ini, I, 58, General Introdllctlon .. Tha.petvi Cliu.ro p'ete nlkiye Dighlliwke, tadaiifi"ql BuddhancaDIUp IlIkiyo khadd.~gJR,&iob. '


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THE FIRST GREAT COUNCIL 33in verse should be known as Glithii. The eighty-two Suttantas coupled with verses e x p re s s iv e ofrelIgIOUSemotions should be understood as U diin a .

.One hundred and twelve Suttautas mtroducedwith the words: Thus was It smd by the BlessedOne,' etc., should be understood as I t t ' l Jut taka (ht.,the 'Thus said ') FIve hundred and fifty birtbstories beginning wrth the Apa t t n aka constitutethe J i i taka A ll Suttantas c on n e c te d w i th wonder-ful and marvellous thmgs spoken in this way: There are, bhikkhus, four wonderful and marvel-lous things in Ananda,' should be understood asAbbhu t a . All Suttantas in the form of queationsasked through repeated attainment of delight andunderstanding, such as the B u tta s : Cul l a t 1eda l l a ,M a ha veda lla , Sa m m ,iid i t t1 n , Sa 1c ka pa lilza , Sa nklz i ir a -bhli1aniya, Mahapunnama, etc., should be under-stood as Vedal la ." I Thus by way of Angas (types)It is ninefold.

How by w ay of units of text IS It eighty-four-thousandfold?

T o th is effec t sa id th e A n c ~ en ts27 Eighty-two thousand from the Buddha,

and two thousand from the bhikkhu [Sariputtaj-these eighty-four thousand Dhammas Ihavelearned.28 There are, in the Vmaya-Pitaka,twenty-one thousand units (of text), In the

J See The Erpo81tor, I, pp. 98.&i-11l44B


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THE FIRST GREAT COUNCIL 3 5varIOUSwonders mamfested themselves, as thoughgmng congratulations with well-felt delight at thethought: lC The religion of HIm who was e n d ow e dwr t h the Ten Powers, has thus, by the theraMahakassapa, been rendered capable of lasting apenod of five thousand years.'

ThIS IS known as the FIrst Great Oouncil.To thzs efft3 c t sa Ld the An c~en ts:In this world,29 "Wbereas (this collection) was made by

f ive hundred, therefore Itwas called' That of thefive hundred,' and whereas It was made by the

\

Theras (Elders), It was also called as' That ofthe Theras.'30 Thus IIIseven months the oompilation of

the Dhamma, to save the whole world, was doneby those (Theras) bent on the whole world's salva-non.

31 'The thera Mahakassapa bas made thisrehgion 01 Suguta to e n d u r e five thousandyears,'-

32 ReJOICIng III this thought, at the close ofthe Council, tile earth encircled by the oceanquaked SIXtimes.

33 Many wonderful SIgns were shown III theworld in many ways. Now , SIDce (the Canon)was compiled by the theras, It was called theThera tradition.

1 B e e The E:;poador,I, pp. ".aG.


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36 BUDDHIST BlSTORICAL TRADITIONS34 The theras who held the first Council

and had (thereby) brought great blessing to theworld, having lived their allotted span of lifeLentered, all, into Nibbana." 1

; ,35 Thus knowing Lhat th i s hfe 18 t r a n s i e n tand bard to WID, be WIse and exert yourself toattam the everlasnng and Immortal state."

Here ends tLe Chapter, called 'The FirstGreat CounCIL,' III the Saddhammasarpgaha, COlli-piled for the serene J O Y and emouon of the pious.

I M ah iivGrflB a, Cb m. v v 374 .1 , GeIger's Gf',/It 07t f 'DfI .c l . 0 / C",lol'l,p.I8.I l ama 1 l 1C l . P i i l c l d , k i i , p. 1Igf).


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CHAPTER IITHE SECOND COUNCIL 1

Now, as days and nights, in succession, hadpassed, a century after the Parimbbana of theExalted One, the Vajjiputtaka bhikkhus of Vesalipromulgated at Vesali the Ten Points.

WhIch were the Ten Pomts? (They were) :-,i (1) That storing sa l t m a hom vessel (Ill order

10 season unsalted foods, when r e c e i v e d ) , wa s per -m1.8sible;

(2) That taking the midday meal when theBun's shadow showed tU JO fin g er~ ' brea dth afternoon, wa s p erm iss~ble ;

(3) That m stt~ n g the v tlla g e after meal, andthere eating again (If mvited), 1 1 a s p erm ~ss~ble ;(4) That ho ld~ng th e Upo sa t h u separately by

bhikkhus residing In the same boundary, w a speT11nss1.ble;

(5) That carrying out of official acts by anincomplete chapter, Inan_tlCipatlOD of the consen tof absent b h i k k h u s to be ob t a i n e d afterwards, w a sp erm~ ss~ ble ;1Of Cul lc~agg" , ell xn, VI'I IQII" T,II,11118 B E.XX, p p . SB6fl.

Af.hiillClfIl" (tnt 4: tra.nslatlon) Oh lV


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38 BUDDHIST HISTORICAL TRADITIONS(6) That It I . / .Jaspermtss ible to do something on

th e p r ec eden c e o f th e p r ec ep to r ' 8 prcct i ce;(7) That ta.king u n c hu rn ed m slk , even after

meal time, w a s perm. iss ible;(8) That it wa s p er rm ss ib le to drink un f e rmen t -

e d t oddy ;(9) 'I'hat the use of a sea t not of the prescnbed

S Iz e , if I t were tm tho u t fr in ge, w as p erm tss ib le;(10) That I t wa s p er m tss tble to accept g o ld a n d,dver.' ,The king named Sisunaga, the son of Kalasoka,

was their adherent.To th ts effec t sa id the An c zen ts :1 "At the end of the tenth year of

Kalasoka's reIgn a century had passed by after thePanmbbsna of the Sambuddha.

2 At that tune m a n y Va]]lputtaka blnkkhusshamelessly promulgated the Ten pomts atVesali." 1

At that time the venerable Yasa, the son ofKakandafka), who was wandering through theVa] ] I an country heard : tt 'I'he Vaj]IPuttakablnkkhus of VesalI are said to have promulgatedthe Ten poinss.' , And he arrived at Vesali,thinkmg: " It IS not proper that I, hearing thedanger ill the Sa-sana of HIm who was gifted wi t hthe Ten Powers, should hve mactive, let me nowexpound the Dhamma, holding back the speakersof what lS not Dhamma." Tbere, at Vesnlr, the

1 ilfahat-',u"IV, 8-9.


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40 BUDDHIST HISTORIC"AL TRADITIONSanalysis. Just as the thera Mahakassapa. hadrehearsed [the canon]. so did they sIttmg in theValukarama and purging the Sasana, again recitethe entire Dhamma and Vmaya by way of Pitakas,N i k a y a s , Aligas (t)pes), and units of text. ' I ' Inscouncil was concluded after eight months.

To th tS effec t sa td th e An c~ en tsIn this world,d ""Thereas this council was completed

by seven bundred, therefore IS that rehearsalalso called' that of the seven hundred,' andb e c a u s e there was another held III t u n e past thisI~ called the Second.

4 & 5 The rehearsal was made famous bythose t h e r a s who rehearsed it S a b b a k am i a n df:&lha, Rcvata ..Kh u jja sob h r ta , Y a s a , and S a n a a am -b h u t a , the SIX theras were pupils of the TheraAnanda, and had beheld the Tathagata Intimepast.

6 Bumann and Vasabhagii.mi, endowed withknowledge, were pupils of the Thera Anuruddha,and had beheld the Tathagata in time past.

7 All those theras, however, who held theSecond CouncIl, had laid their burden, hadaccomplished their appointed tasks} and werefree from the asavas (sms).

8 Highly powerful were these theras,Sabbakami and the rest, and they, too, shunnglike the columns of :fire Inthrs world! attained theParimbbana,


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CHAPTER IIITHE THlRD COUNCIL

'I 'w o h u n d re d a n d tw en ty -e ig h t y e a rs a fte rth e P a r im b b an a of th e S am b u d d h a , a ll heretics,numbermg s ix ty th ou s a n d , being deprived ofh on ou r a n d p a tron ag e , so th a t th e y h av e n ot e v e nen ou g h to e a t, sou g h t th a t h on ou r a n d p a tron ag e ,th em se lv e s c u t off th e ir h a ir , d on n ed th e y e llowrobe s , a n d w en t a b ou t th e v rh a ra s , e n te r in g e v en(the assembhes) a t the time of the Uposa t haa u d oth e r se rv ic e s . T h ey w rou g h t d iv e rse c a n k e rss t a i n '3 , a n d n u is a n c e lI1 th e S a s a n a The re fo reth e O rd e r of b ln k k h u s 10 th e w hole Jambudipafor se v e n y e a rs d id n ot h old th e Uposa t haceremony.'

A t th a t t im e A sok a , th e n g h teou s k in g , w a scon se c ra te d :fifte e n y e a rs . T h e k in g , w ish in g top u rg e th e S a s a n a , of SIllS, c a lle d th e O rd e r ofB h ik k h u s tog e th e r a t th e Aao k a r am a . In th a tc on g re g a u on , th e v e n e ra b le th em T rs s a , Mog g ah 'sson , b em g th e sem oi of th e 0 1 d a r , In s tru c te d th eklDg in th e d o c t n n e . T h e k in g a sk e d th e te a c h e rsof otb e r VI :lWS, a n d d is c em e d : "T h e se a le n on eof t h em (p rop e r) b h i k k h u s b u t h e re t ic s ." A n d

1 Pomt . ! 0/ rJulI lrotel .Y ('''mmeotdtor's Intro , p p 5 r . ( / Moh l it lQfI"O. VS. ~3482


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'rHE THIRD rOUNCILh a v in g c a u s e d th em to b e e xp e lle d from th eO rd e r , h e b e s tow ed w h i te l a y - r a imen t u p on th em .T h e n th e k in g s a id tt X ow , s i r , th e S i i sana isp u rg e d . L e t th e O rd e r o f bhikkhus h o ld th eU p os a th a c e r em on y ." And, providing a g u a r d ,h e e n te r e d th e c i ty In c on c o rd th e O rd e ra s s em b le d a n d h e ld th e U pos a tb a c e r em on y .

To th is effec t sa id the 1 " 1 nClents9 .. T w o h u n d re d a n d twenty-eight y e a rs h a d

p a s s e d from the Panmbbana of th e S am bu d d h a ,w h e n A sok a b e c am e k in g a n d lo rd of th e e a r th .

10 Spending a w e e k th e r e In th e p le a s a n troy a l p a rk h e (M og g a h p u t ta u s s a ) In s tru c te d th er u l e r g ood d oc tr iu e of th e B nm b u d d h a .

11 In this s am e w e e k , th e m on a rc h s e n t ou ttw o y a k k h a s , a n d a s s em b le d tog e th e r a l l th eb h ik k h u s on th e e a r th

12 O n th e s e v e n th d a y h e w e n t to h IS ow nsplendid p a rk a n d a r ra n g e d a n a s s em b ly of th eO rd e r o f b h ik k h u s ill I ts fu l l n um b e r s . "1

13 T h e k in g a s k e d a ll th e a d h e re n ts o f o th e rV Iew s th e Ialse-behevers, a n d knowing (theirV Iew s ), b e c a u s e d th em , ill a l l S Ix ty th ou s a n d ,to b e e x p e l le d (from tL e O rd e r).

14 A n d th e k i ng s ru d to th e T h e ra (T ls s a ) ."T h e O rd e r I ::. purged, T h e re fo re , re v e r e n dS Ir , le t th e O rd e r h o ld th e Upo s a t h a c e r emo n y . "

I For rerses 1022 Fee Mal,nta"la,Ch. V. H 265.67


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44 ummarsr HlS'lORIl'A L 'fRADI'1'lONS15 P rov id in g a g u a rd fo r th e O rd e r , h e

e n t e r e d Ius fair C Ity . In c on c o rd , th e O ld e r th e nh e ld th e Upo s a t h a c e r e m o n y . 1

In th e m id s t o f th a t congregation th e th e ia'I'issa, Moggali's s on , p r e s e n te d th e tr e a t i s e , c a l le dth e Kathavatthu, r e fu tm g th e dissentient v i ew s ,E v e n a s th e th e ra M ab a k a s s a p a a n d th e th e r a Y a s a(h a d h e ld a C ou n c il) s o d id h e (th e th e r a 'I 'is s a ),ou t o f S Ix ty h u n d re d th ou s a n d b h ik k h u s , s e le c t on eth ou s a n d b h ik k h u s , w ho w ere le a rn e d 1D th e th r e ePitakas, a d v a n c e d IIIth e (tou r ) Pansambhidas, a n dv e r s e d IIIth e th r e e kinds of k n ow le d g e , a n d th ehke, a n d did h e recite th e D h am m a a n d th eVinaya by w ay of Pitakas, Nikayas, A n g a s , a n dunits of te x t T h u s In recitmg th e D b am m a a n dth e V m a y a , th e g re a t th c r a 'I 'is s a , M og g a h 's s on ,p u rg e d th e S a s a n a 01 a ll I t s staius, a n d h e ld th eT h u d Cou n c i l, A t th e c lo s e o l th e C ou n c i l th eg re a t e a r th qu a k e d In m a n y w a y s . T h IS c ou n c ile n d e d 10 nm e m on th s

T v tlu s effec t sa u l th e Al l c~en t816 "E v e n a s tile th e ra M ah a k a s s a p a a n d

th e th e r a Y a s a h a d h e ld th e D h am m a Cou n c i l, s oa l so did th e thera 'I'issa.

17 A n d III th e H a ll o f this Council, th ethera TIS:,a. ' le t Ioi th tile b ook , c a lle d th e Katha . -uuthu, fo r th e fu tu re c iu s ln n g o f a l l d ia s e u t te n tV I e w s .

1 FlJr ver.eb 14.11i, See MahilLuIII6a, Ch V vv 273 U.


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THE THIRD COUNClL 45m T I . lU~ w a s tln s cou n c i l of th e D h am m a

u n d e r th e protection of kmg A sok a e n d e d b y th et h o u s a n d bhrkkhus in nine months." I

19 A ll th o s e th e , a s , too , holding th e T h u dCouncil a n d doing m an y g ood to th e w or ld , l iv e duntil th e s p a n of their h v e s a n d th e n e n te re d In toNrbbana.

20 T h u s k n ow m g th a t this hle IS transienta n d h a rd to WJDt b e W Is e a n d e x e r t y ou r s e lf forth e a t tam m e n t of th e everlasnug a n d Im m or ta ls t a t e .

H e re e n d s th e c h a p te r , c a lle d 'T h e T h u dCou n c i l ' IIIth e Saddhammasamgaha , c om p ile d fo rth e s e re n e J O Y a n d em otion o f th e p IOU S .1 For verses 16-16. Spe Mah i i v am s l J . Oh V. vv 277279


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.\CUEP1 \NCB OF CFT[YAI'Ann \TAYIITUI \ 4 .7the western countnes a company of five bhikkhuswas declared to be su f f i c i en t for the purpose ofordination.

Hen ce to th is effec t sa u l the An c '/.en ts1 "The thera Moggahputta, the Illuminator

of the religion of the Conqueror, bnnging the(Third) Council to an end, looked into the future.2 He beheld the founding of the religion Inadj acent countnes, and in the month of Ka t nk a(KartIka) he sent those theras, one here and onethere.

3 The thera Maj jh an t i k a be sent to Kasmiraand Gan d h a ra , th e th e ra M ah a d e v u h e se n t toMahisamandala.

4 To Vanavasl be sent the thera namedRa.kkhita, and to Ap.irantaka (the thera) namedDhamrnarakkhita the Yona.

5 To Mahlirattha he sent the thera namedMulJ ii .d ham r n ara k kh ltn ., b ut the thera Mahi i l a kkb l t ahe Bent to the country of the Yonas.

6 He sent the thera MaJ]hun a to theHimalayan region, and to Suvannabhiimi he sentthe two theras, Sona and Uttara.

7 The great thers Mahmda and lns disClples-the theras Ittlnya, U ttiya, Sambala and Bhaddasala,8 These five theras he sent with the charge:Tl You WIll found, III the delightful Island ofTJaIika, the de l i g h t f u l Rule of the Conqueror? " ]

1 Mahl i 'VQl l180, Ch XI1, ,"v 18


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48 m-DDHI':.'I HJf;TOTIH.'-\L l'lHDI'fIONSCb a rg e d b y h is te n c h e r a n d b y th e O rd e r o f

b b ik k h u s . "Y ou w ill g o to th e I s la n d o f L a n k a ,a u d fou n d th e r e th e religion," tb e thera Malnnda,h ow e v e r , p on d e re d : "I s I t th e p rop e r t im e n owto g o to th e Is la n d o f L a n k a ?" 'I 'h e n S a k k a ,king of th e g od s , a p p roa c h e d th e thera, a n d saidth u s "R e v e re n d S ir , k in g M u ta a tv a IS d e a d ; n owre ig n s th e g re a t k in g D e v a n am p iy a tia s a . A n d b yth e S am m a s am b u d d h a h a v e y ou b e e n p re d ic te d, In fu tu r e . a b h ik k h u n am e d M a ln n d a w ill c on v e r tth e is la n d of L a n k a . ' T h e re fo re , R e v e re n d S I r ,th is is th e fittmg t im e to g o to th e e x c e l le n t I s la n dI, too , s h a ll he y o u r helper." I

To th is effec t sOl( l th e AnClents9 "At th a t t im e th e thera n a m e d Mahmda

"a s th e senior of th e O rd e r 'I'In-re w e re th e fou r(o the r ) tberas-e-Ittlnya, Ettiya, B h a d d a a a la a n dS am b a l a .

10 A n d (th e r e w e re ) th e rm ra c u lou s ly g ifte dS am m )e l a S um a n a , m i g h t y IIIth e S IX su pe rn orm a lpowers, a n d the la y d is c ip le Bhanduka, th es e v e n th am on g th em , w h o b a d discerned theti nth.

11 T h e y , like r o y a l swans in th e air, we r es e n t fo r th from th e I s la n d of J am h u . T h u s th etheras ro s e u p a n d alighted on th e m os t e x c e l le n tc i t y .1 C f Ma1li i r ; a l l l IG Ch, XIII, v v 12,1516, Saman l ap i i s i i d , k i i , p 319


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ACCEPTANCE OF C~TIYAPABBATAVrHAHA 4912 In front of the best city, on the peak of a

mountain which resembled the clouds, they stayed,as do the swans high above 10 the sky.'

Let it be known that ill the two hundred andthirty-sixth year after the Pannibbsna of theSammsssmbuddha the venerable thera Mahmdawho had thus come with Ittlnya, lind the rest,and stayed on the Mrssaka-mountain, gamed afootmg in this Island

And on that day, IIIthe Island of Lanka, thefestival called Jettamiila, took place Announcingthe festival a n d oom m an d in g hI'3 mimsters : "Cele-brate the Iesnval,' tn e great kmg Devanatppryatissacame out of the city WIth a retmue of fortythousand men, and being desirous of enjoymg thepleasure of the clrise, went to the place where theM ia sa k a -m ou n ta tu w a s N ow , J deity residingon that mountain thought "I Will make thetheras visible to the king," and aSSUIDtng theform of a red deer, began to roam, eatmg' thegrass as It were, not far from the king, Thenthe king struck (a sound) at his bowstring. Alongthe way to the Ambatthala the deer began toflee. Pursumg closely, the king ascended theAmbatthala. The deer, too, disappeared at aplace not far from the theras, When the theraMahmda had beheld the king drawing near, heresolved: "Let the kmg alone see me, Dotothers," and said: HI'issa, 'I'issa, come here. It.

1 For verses (J-lS, sao Dipaoam.sa, ell XII, vv 86-401-1IMB


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50 BUDDHIST Hn:lTORICAL TRADITIONSOn b e a r in g th is , th e k in g th ou g h t: "T h e re ISn on e b o rn in t h i s island w h o c a n a d d re s s m e b ym y n am e , b u t th is s h a v e n -h e a d e d fe llow w e a n n gth e y e llow p a tc h -w o rk g a rm e n t a d d re s s e s m eb y m y n am e . Who th e n s h a ll b e h um a n o rn o t h um a n ?"

T b e th e r a r e p lie d ."S am a 'Q ,a s a r e w e , 0 g r e a t king, disciples

of th e lu n g of r ig h te ou s n e s s . F rom com p a s s iontow a rd s y ou a re w e c om e h e re from the I s la n d ofJ am b n . "

A s soon a s th e k in g h e a rd th e th e r a 's w o rd , h ei n s t an t l y l a i d hIS a r row aside a n d , w ln le s p e a k in gIII Iu e u d ly te rm , took In s s e a t Oll on e s id e

. 1 s z t lUIS b e e n ~ a l ( l"The king 10)m g Ius a u ow aside t ook In s

s e a t on on e side, a n d a s h e w a s s e a te d h e e x -c h a n g e d fr ie n d ly greetmgs connected w i t h vanedm e am n g s . "

A t th e v e ry m om e n t those fo r ty th ou s a n d m e nc am e a n d s u r rou n d e d th e km g . T h e n to h im th ethera s h ow e d th e SlX o th e r p e rs on s a ls o Whenth e k m g h a d b e h e ld th e s e , h e a s k e d "W h e n d idth e s e c om e h e re ?" "(T h e y c am e ) W Ith m e ,o g re a t k in g ." "B u t a r e there n ow in th eis la n d of Jam b u a ls o o th e r s am a n a s h k e th e s e ?"" T h e re a r e , 0 g re a t km g . T h e I s la n d of Jambuis now-a-days glowing W Ith y e l low lob e s a n d stirredb y th e w in d o f s a in ts , .." S o s a y in g h e u t te re dth is v e r s e :


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ACCEPTANCF, OF CETI YAPAB BATAVI HARA 51If G re a t IS th e n um h e r o f d is c ip le s o f th e

B u d d h a w h o a re a rh a n ts , le a rn e d in th e th re ek m d s o f k n ow le d g e , g ifte d w ith th e s u p e rn o rm a lp ow e r s , skilled IIIreading th e thoughts of o th e r sa n d fre e from th e asavas . '

" R ev e re n d S 1 1 ' , b y w h a t w a y a re ) ou c o rn eh e re ?" (A n d smce th e a n sw e r w a s :) " N e i th e rb y w a te r n o r b v la n d , 0 g re a t lu n g ," th e k in gund e r s t ood th a t th e y h a d c om e t h r ou g h th e air,T h e th e r a p u t a qu e s t ion on the sumle of a m an g o ,a n d th e k i ng a n s w e r e d .

T h m k m g "Tbe king IS W ise , a n d Win bea b le to u n d e r s ta n d th e Dhamma," th e thera t h e nre c i te d th e Ci i l aha t t h t padopn l nu Suttr!.l A t th ee n d of th e disccnrse th e king with tL e fo r tyth ou s a n d b e in g s c am e u n to th e th r e e r e fu g e s ." R e v e re n d S I r , tom on ow I w I11 s e n d n c h a n o t ,P le a s e m ou n t th n t cha r ro t a n d c om e ." S o s a y in g ,th e k in g p a id hun h om a g e a n d d e p a r te dN o soon e r h ad th e h. l l lg d e p a r t e d t h an th eth e r a o rd ere d th e S J.lm l l1eH t S um a n .i " S u rn a n a ,c om e . A n n ou n c e th e t im e o f h c .m n g th e p re a c h -mg of the Dhamma." "How . 1 1 ' , Reverend S I r ,s h a l l I m a k e th e time to be h e a rd w h e n I a n n o u n c eI t?" "O v e r a ll th e I s la n d of Lanka." "I t 1Sw e ll, R ev e re n d 811'," replied th e S am a n e la , a n db e , e n te r in g th e Iou i th s ta g e o f meditation, b a s e don apperception, ro s e n p , fix e d In s attention a n d


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5 2 BUDDHIST HISTORICAL TRADITIONSw ith h IS m in d c on c e n tra te d a n d a n n ou n c e d th r ic eth e time of hearing th e preaching of th e Dhamma,makmg I t audible ov e r th e w h o le o f th e Is la n d o fLanka.

When th e km g h e a rd th is s ou n d , b e s e n t am es s a g e to th e th e ra s (asking) : "R e v e re n d S I r ,h a s th e re b e e n a n y trou b le ? T h e re w a s n otrou b le fo r u s a s w e w ish to p re a c h th e w ord ofth e B u d d h a , w e h a v e a n n ou n c e d (th e t i m e ) of b ea r-m g th e p re a c hm g .,

W h e n th e e a r th -g od s b e a rd th e summons of th es am a n e la , th e y e c h oe d i t , 111 this w a y th e c a llro s e u p (g r a d u a lly ) to Brahma's heaven. B e c a u s eo f th e SUl1lIDOnS t h e i e c am e tog e th e r a g r e a ta s s em b ly o f g od s . W h e n th e th e ra h a d b e h e ldthis g re a t a s s em b ly o f g od s , h e re c i te d th e S a m a -c i t ta Su tta n to ) A t th e e n d of th e d i s c ou r s e th eg o d s w i t h o u t n um b e r w e re c on v e r te d to th edoctrine, a n d m an y nagas a n d supannas c am e u n toth e re fu ge s .

W h e n th e n ig h t b a d p a s s e d , th e kmg s e n t IIc h a r io t fo r th e th e ra s . T h e charioteer. k e e p i n gth e chanot OIl on e S Ide , mformed th e th e ra s" R e v e r e n d S I 1 " , th e c h a r io t is b rou g h t; m ou n ta n d we WIll d r iv e (to th e City)." "vVe wi l l n o tm ou n t th e chanot : g o th ou , w e w ill fo llow th e e ."B a y in g th is , th e th e ra s ro s e in to th e a ll ' a n dd e s c e n d e d to th e e a s t o f A n u ra d h a p u ra a t th e p la c e

1 See Anguttara.NlklJl/li. I. pp !l3.tlli.


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ACCEPTANCE OF UETI YAPAB B ATAVI BXRA 53where the first cetiya (afterwards stood), And thecetiya, which was built on the spot where thetheras first alighted, is called Pathamaka-cetiyathe First Shrme. The chanoteer saw that thetheras had come first, and had fastened girdlesand put on robes. As he saw, he was very muchgladdened at heart, came and informed the kmg:"Lord, the theras are come." The king en-quired , "DId they mount the charIot?" " 'I'heydid not, lord. Moreover, t h e y starting after mehave come earlier, and are staying at the easterngate." The king, too, went, paid homage to thetheras, took the alms-bowl from the theraMahmda's hand, and with great honour and,homage led the thetas into the City and into thepalace.

The thera, seeing the Immovable seat prepared,and thmkmg, c c the rehgion of our Teacher WIll hefounded all over the Island of Lanka as this Im-movable seat on the enrth," took Ius seal.

The king l nm s e l f served the theras w i t hexcellent nee-soup and wi th food bard and soft.The thera having finished the meal, recited thePe taoa t t l i u , the VlIllii,IlUwtthll, and the Sa c c a -samyutia causing the shower of Jewels of theDhamma, so to speak, to the kmg and hIS attend-ants.' The five hundred women, hearing thepreaching of the doctrine by the thera, attained

1 B ee S."'IIt1ttaN,kiifllJ, V , pp. 41478.


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54 BUDDHIRT HISTORW.HJ TRADITIO~Sto th e first s ta g e of s n n c tific a u on (r .e . , Sotapatti)At th e eud of the preachmg of the Dhamma, 111the evemng, t1le mnnsters le d th e theras to thegreat "Megha \O , t n a -p a l ' k The theras stayed In theMeghavaua-paik. When the night had passed,the king, too , visited the theras and asked a b o u tthe comfort in their rest. He also asked "Isan iiriuna allowed to the Order of bhikkhus ?"The thera replied : ,. It IS allowed, 0 great king."The king beiug pleased, .mrl tnking a golden vase,p ou re d w a te r over th e hand of the thera and dedi-cated the great ~Iegba'iana-park, As the wa t e rfell (on the ground). the earth quaked. For aweek the tbera preached the Dhamma. Ninethousand five hundred persons were cO IH~ l L e dThe thcra went to the Cetiya mountain, and thekmg also carne there.

That very day, a minister named AntthaWith Ins fifty-fixe elder and younger brothers,after pa) lI1g homage to the lung, said thus"Lord, I wish to [receive the pllbba)Jii from thetheta." The long g,ne Inm permission (saj ing)"It must be \\e11 S tu d , re ce iv e the pabbajja," andmade the thera agree On that same d a y the theracon f e r r e d the PalJbaJ]ii All these men attainedto Arahamshtp even Inthe shaving hall.

1 ' ( 1 ilus Cl1ld H rH i t h e IlititlltS:] 3 "When the king, on the same d a y , had

made a begn.mng wi t h the work of building Slx ty -


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ACCEPTANCE OF CETIYAPABBATAVIHIRA 5 5e ig h t rock -c e lls a b ou t (th e p la c e w h e re ) th eKan ja k a-c en ya (a fte rw a rd s s tood ),

14 h e re tu rn e d to th e CIty; b u t th e th e ra sr ema i n e d in th a t sp ot, g O l l 1 g a t the a p poin te d tu ne ,fu ll of com pa s s ion (for th e p eop le ), to th e CIty tob e g a l m s t h e r e .

15 Wh en th e w ork on th e roc k -c e lls w a sfim sh e d , on th e fu ll-m oon d ay of the m on th ofA sa g h a , th e k in g c am e a n d g , 1 V e th e v ih a ra to th eth e ra s a s a consecrated offer ing

16 Wh en th e th e ra , w h o h ad p a s se d b e y on dth e b ou n d ines (of e v il) h ad e s ta b lis h e d th e b ou n d -a n e s for th e th ir ty -tw o m a lak a s a n d th e v ih s ra ,th e n d id h e , on th e V e l} s am e d a y ,

17 III th e T u iu b a ru -m a lok r , w h ic h w a sm a r k e d OUl i a s th e fir s t o [ a ll, c on fe r th e u p a -s a m p a d a on a ll th os e w h o w e re w e a ry of th ep a b b a J J i i .18 A n d th e se SIxty- two a ra h a u ts , d u r in g th era in y -se a son . ta km g u p th e ir a b od e a ll tog e th e r onth e Oenya -moun t am, s h owe d Javoiu to th e k i n g(by th e ir te ac ln u g ). ' 1

H ere e n d s th e c h ap te r , c a lle d t T he A cc ep ta n c eof th e C eh y ap ab b a tn v ih a ra ,' 1Il th e Saddhamma-s a ' Y { g a h a , com p ile d for th e se re n e J O Y a n d em otionof th e pIOUS.

1 See Mah i i v a l l u a , Cb XVI H 1217, For trllD~lltlUn eel Geller,Ib lll P 116


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1HE JlOUn'fII COUNCIL 5 7

the roots of the S i i s a na be called as descended."It Is there, Reverend Sa, such a bhikkhu?" 'f Thereis, 0 great king, 3. b l n k k h u named Arittha thegreat, who IS able III t h r s respect" II In thISconnection, Reverend Sir, what should be done byme?" "A ball 1$ t) be built, 0 great king."

"It is well," replied the kmg. A.nd at theplace where the panvena built by the munsterMeghavannabhaya stood, when be with bIS royalmight had a hall built like that built by the greatkmg Ajatasattu at the time of the Great Oouncil,and had all the musicians engaged to display theirrespective skill, he thought: r We WIll see theSlisana descending," and being attended b y manythousands of hIS people reached the ThiipaJ'ama.

At tbat tune one thousand bhikkhus assembledin the Tbiiparama. Facmg the south a seat wasprepared for the great thera Mahmda. Thepreacher's seat, Iacing the nortb was prepared forthe great thera Artttha Now, asked. by the theraMahmda, the great them Anttha, paying homageto the elder bhikkhus, took In s proper seat accord-mg to In s Lank S rx t y - e r gh t thetas, headed by thethera Mabmda, were seated round the preacher'sseat The kmgs younger brother named theraMantabbaya thought " WIth utmost endurance1 WIll learn tbe Vmaya," and he witb five hundredbhikkhus remained seated also round the preacher'sseat (prepared) for the great thera Anttha. Andthe remaining bbikkhus including the king and

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58 nnonrns r rus romc.u. IRI\DlTIO~Sth e ir a tte n d a n ts w e re s e a te d in th e s e a ts a s s ig n e dto th em ,

' I 'hen th e v e n e ra b le th e ra A n ttu a th e g r e a tsp ok e on th e sou rc e of th e V m ay a , "A t th a ttu n e th e E xa lte d B u d d h a w a s s ta y in g 011 [ th e b a n kof) th e V eH l.l iJ a ra , a t tb e foo t of th e Na b i u PUC1-in an d n " A n d a s th e sou rc e of th e V llla y a w a ss p o k e n by th e v e n e ra b le th e ta Anttha, t h e r e \\8Sa g r e a t sou n d in th e s ky , fla sh e s of hgh t l l l ng 1 1 1 1 -expec t ed l y s h on e Ior th , g od s sh ou te d a p p la u s e a n dth e g r e a t e a r t h e n c n c l ed by th e OL e a n qu a k e dT h u s w h e n w e re u i am i e s t e d m an y w ou d e is , th ev e n e ra b le th e ra A n ttb a , s u r rou n d e d b y ti le s ix ty -e ig h t g re a t th o ra s w h o b a d e a c h lo l lowe i s n u dw e re fre e from th e a s a v a s , w ith th e t he ra Ma l n n d aa t th e ir h e a d , a n d by th e s ix ty th ou s a n d b ln k k h u sb e s rd e s , e x p ou nd ed , all th e fir s t g re a t pava rana -d . r j10 th e m on th of Ka ttik a (k a rtrk n ), III th e mona s t e r yof th e T h iip 'i .t i i .m a , th e V m ay n -P r ta k a w ln chhngu t u . i s th e c om p a-s iou of th e T e a c h e r , sp l . u n sthe reason for th e Ex.ilted One's ad momuuns, andrem ov e s th e sc u fflin g of a c n o u s b od ily a n d v oc a lE v e n a s th e th e th e r .i M ah a k a s s a p a a n d th e t h e t aY a sa , a n a th e th e ra Tissa, Mog g a h 's su n , h a dr e h e a r s e d th e D h am m a a n d th e V i n a y a b y W,lYof P ita k a s , N ik a y a s , A n g a s , a n d u n its 0 1 te x t , s od id th e g re a t tn e ra Malnnda, w h ile re h e a r s in g th eD h a rnm a a n a th e Vm a y a , h old th e Four t h Coun -o il, m a k in g th e roo t of th e S i u i u u : d e s c e n d e d inth e Is la n d of Lanka When th e c ou n c il c am e to


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TH I~ L "O l'H TH COUNC I L 5 Ua c lose , H ie g re a t e a r th qu a k ed 111 m an y w ay s . T im ,cou nc il e n de d In a n in d e fim te n ru e .

To th 'ts effec t sa 'td the A nc 'ten ts19 "W h e n tw o h u n d r e d a n d tln rty -e ig lu

y ea r s b a d p a s s e d by [I lte r th e a t t a i nmen t of th eP a rm i h b a n a b y th e S a u ib h u d d h a , P ry a tis s a k ab e c am e a k in g

20 E v en a s th e th e ta M ah u k a s 'la p a a n d Y a sa ,a n d 'I 'is sn h a d h e ld th e D h am m a Cou n c il, s o a lsod id Ma lu n d a

2L 'I 'h e b es t d oc tr in e of th e Couqueroi , th ele a rnm g (of th e S c n p tu re s ), I ts p ra c t ic e a n d u g h tc om p re h e n s ion d id th e g r e a t t h c r a . \ f c lhmda .

23 E xp )am III th e l'll,lIld of I . J 8 . 1 1 k u , a . nd H 1he ' , th e g rea t :-lag e ol th e is la n d o r L a n k a , w ho w a sh k e th e T e a c h e r III L a n k a , 11lll1Y w olla ie s toL a n k a .

23 T ile Rlxt) - e rgh t gre Itt h em s, w ho h a vm gu tmo s t e n d u ra n c e .l


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bO IlC"DDHlf,'l' HJl-.TORll vt, 'lR.\DI'llOK"S26 T h u s k n ow in g that this hfe is t r a n s i e n t

a n d h a rd to w in , b e W Is e a n d e x e r t y ou r s e lf fo rtho attamrnent of th e everlastmg and Immo r t a ls t a t e .

Here ends the chapter, called' The Fou r t hCounc i l , ' Ul the St lddh~lnmasan."gaha, c omp i l e dfor the serene J O Y a n d em o tion of the pious.


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CHAPTEU, \' 1THE ACCOuNT OF IHB "WRITING OF 'rHE 'rHRlm

PITAKAS IN BOOKSA fte r th e a t t a i ume n t of th e P a r i m b b a u a by

t ho se theras, oth e rs , su c h a s , 'I'issa, D an tu , Ka la -sum an a , D ig h a sum an a , a n d th e re s t, w h o w e red rs c ip le s of th os e t h e i a s , a s w e ll a s th e d i s c i p l e sof th e g re a t th e ra A li t th a , h a v in g th u s form ed as u c c e s s i o n of te a c h e rs a s s ta te d a b ov e , b rou g h tthis Vm a y a Pitaka d ow n to th e p re s e n t t im e

H en c e to t ln s e ffe c t I t b a s b e e n s a id ," A fte r th e 'I 'ln rd C ou nc il ( the Vmay a - P i t a k a )w as c a r r ie d to t ln s Is la n d of L a n k a hy Ma hm d aa n d o th e rs Hav i n g le a rn t from Mah in d a , d rdth e thera A rltth a a n d oth e rs c a rry I t fo r som etime. 'I'herealtei I t h a s been e a r n e d auoce s a r ve lyu p to the p re s e n t L Im e by their disciples t h rough as u c c e s s ion of te a c h e rs . "

Wh e r e w a s I t e e t a b h e h e d ? It w a s e e t a b h s h e dam on g su ch p e rson s III w hom ev e n a s O I l pou r e dIII a n Iv ory p o t d oe s n o t. ooze e v e n a httle, RO wasI t c om p le te III t ex t and meaning, a n d w ho WPI em in d fu l, of r ig h t con d u c t, re solu te , m od e s t, c on s -c ie n n ou s a n d a nX IOU S for t l a m m g ' I 'hus I ts h ou ld b e u n d e rs tood . T h e re fo re , m ord e r toe s ta b lish th e V m ay a P ita k a , th e V iu ay a sh ou ld b ema s t e r e d by a b ln k k h u an x iou s fo r traimng, a f te r


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62 BUDDHIl:ll' HIS'fORW


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WRITl~G OF THREE Pl1'Ah.Al:. L\ BOOKS G 3th e d is c ou rs e (on th e D is c ip lm e), fu r s u c h p u rp os e1 : : 1 th e e on sn lta t ion , fo r s u c h p u rp os e 1 & th e g rou n d -w ork , fo r s u c h p u rp os e IS th e u t te n n v e n e -,s ,n am e ly , t i le em a n c ip a t ion o t t i le m in d d e v o id o fgrnspmg.'

T h e re fo re on e sh ou ld e x e r t fu r th e V in a y a -l e a r n i n g

T o th is e ffe c t h a s It b e e n s a rd :1 .f T h e k in g D e v a n um p ry a u s s a , lo rd o f

L a n k a , v ir tu ou s a n d W is e , re ig n e d fo r ty y e a r s2 A fte r h i '> d e a th , h is youn g e r b roth e r,

k n ow n a s U tn y a , b e c am e 1u le r a n d ru le d in s p le n -d id A n u d id h a pu ra .3 M a h a n a g a , th e V ic e -re g e n t , Y a ta ln . ofg re a t m ig h t , G o th a b h n y a o f gl e a t m e r i t , a n dK a k a v a rm a th e e n e rg e t ic

4 T h e s e four k in g s a s (h is ) son s a n d g r a n d -son s , r e ig n e d s u c c e s s rv e ly WIth p i e t y III p l e a s a n tM ah a g am a . "T h re e h u n d r e d s e v e u tv -S IX y c a i R a fte r th ea t ta in m e n t o f th e P a ru n b h a u a b y th e E x a lte dO n e . th e g re a t k in g D u tth a g a n nm -a h h a y n g .u n e dsov e re ig n ty ov e r th e is la n d o f L a n k a W h e n h eh a d bui l t th e Mnncavn t t r - v i hnm, h e ma d e th eL oh a p a s a d a ru n e -s ton e d W h e n h e h a d c om p le te dth e G re a t 'I 'h i lp a ov e r la id w ith g em -d u s ts , h ea s s em b le d th e b h ik k h u s am on g w h om th e a r nhnn t sw e re m u e ty -s ix kOtIS, a n d b e s tow e d (on th em ) a

1 01 Vuuddhlmagga, Vol I


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64 BUDDHl~'l' R.ISTORICAL TMDlTIONSgreat gIft. When h e h a d reigned piously a n dJu s tly tw e n ty -fou r y e a r s InAnuradhapura he w a sIeborn, as on e aw a k e n e d h om s le e p , Inthe Tusnah e a v e n at the expiry of Ins l ife term. At t h a tt im e , th e O rc le r o f b ln k k h u s re s id in g III the i s l andof Lanka m a s te re d th e entire s a y i n g of the Buddh a ,compnsed 111 the three Prtakas, wrth text andthe commentary t h e r eon , which fo r the g r ow t h ofth e S a s a n a was orally h a n d e d d ow n through asuccession (o f teachers).

To t im effec t sa id the An c ien ts5 When two hundred a e v e n ty -s rx y e a r s

h a d passed siuce tb e a t t a i nme n t of tLe Pan-mbbana b y th e Sambuddha, Du t t h a g n rmm becamek i n g .

6 Dutthagamim-abhaya, lo rd of L a n k a ,v i r t uous and WIse , reigned In Lanka twenty-foury e a r s .

7 Thus the lord of the eai th, d oin g m an ym en ton ou s d e e d s , w a s , a fte r th e dissoln t ion of In sb od y , re b orn w ith k n ow le d g e 1Il th e 'I 'u s i ta! l e a v e n . "

[The s tory of the birth of great king Du t t h a -g um ll ll-a b h a y a .]

W u e u fifty-seven y e a r s b ad p as b ed B IB e e tilefou n d in g of the Gre a t 'I 'h u p a , the g r e a t KingVattagtunun-abhaya reigned in the island of Lanka.When tlns kmg had built ,a great vihara a t theAbhayagiri, he erected IIIt h a t viliara a g re a t Ceuyuto the extent of the Great 'I'hupu, with a reuc


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WRITING OT ' THREE PI1.'AKAS IN BOOKf4 65(chamber), and dedicated It to the Order of bhrk-kbus headed by the Thera Mahaussa

A t that time the Order of bhikkhus residing inthe Island of Lanka realised that there would bethe decline of the Su s a n a and of the people, and mtile Mahavihara came together all the blnkkhusw ho were expert III the Dhamma, expert III theVinaya, learned, and advanced in analytic insight.' I ' heu the great k i n g Vattagamml-abhaya went toithe Mabavlhara and approached the Order ofbhikkhus. Having approached, he paid homage tothe Order of bhikkhns and took his seat on oneside. Then the O J der of b ln k k h u s s a id to thekmg : " 0 great kmg, the entire saymg of theBuddha comprised III the three Pitakas, with textand the c omm e n t a r y thereon, wh i c h was orallyhanded down through a succession (of teachers)has been even now banded down orally. Infuture, there WIll he the dechne of the S i i s a na andof the people and the entire saying of the Buddha,comprised in the three Prtakas, WIth text and thecommentary thereon, W I l l be lost. Therefore thecutn e saying of the Buddha, comprised in thethree Pitakas, with tex t and the commentarythereon, s h ou ld n ow b e wrrtten down in books ,." Reverend Sir, what should be done by me 1Il tIJIsmatter?" "A hall should be built and all theleaves should be provided for tLe books, 0 greatkIng." " ItIS well, Reverend Sir," replied theking. And III the Mahftvibii.rn when be with his

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66 DCDDHI.5T HISTORIC.\L TRADITIONSr oy a l might had a hall built l ike that built b y thegreat kmg A.Jatasattu at the time of the GreatCouncil, and had aU the leaves provided for books,he caused highly precious seats to be l a id down IIIthe middle of the hall, a n d bade Ins people mformthe Order of bhikkhus : "My wo r k IS f i n i s h ed ,Reverend se.::

Then out of bhikkhus who were many hundredthousands IIInumber, the Order of bhikkhus chose\many thousand elder bbikkhus, expert in theleannug of th e three Prtakas, advanced In ana ly t i cinsight able to refute the threefold knowledge (otthe Vedas), and the hke. Then the elder bhikkhustook tlJ(,Jf respective seats assigned to them.

buddhist councils_law_a manual of buddhist historical traditions

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