Contents
37. THE FIRST COUNCIL
37.1 The Background of the First
Council
Just like other early religious leaders and great philosophers, Shakyamuni Buddha left no writing from his
own hand. He preached the people both by example and precepts. Throughout
forty nine years, he travelled from place to place, sometimes accompanied by
his disciples, expounding the Dharma to the
people of all kinds. There was no literal record nor documentary on what he
spoke in the sermons. It is natural that the disciples would gather together
to put in order their recollection of the great teachings after the death of
such a reputable leader of a monastic order, Shakyamuni Buddha.
The disciples would re-construct the way in which the Buddha's teaching was
correctly followed by the people in future. On the other hand, there arose
differences of interpretation of the Buddha's teachings after his death. In
order to avoid any false thinkings and deviant ways to study Buddhism, a
council was necessary to establish a unity of doctrine and opinion within the
monastic community, as well as the lay community.
Three months after the death of Shakyamuni, Ajatashatru, the king of Magadha patronized the council, held at
Saptaparna-guha in the Cave of the Seven
Leaves in Rajagaha. The leading
convenors of the council were Mahakashyapa, Ananda and Upali. It was known as the First Council.
As the chairman of the Council, Mahakashyapa selected five hundred Bhiksus to undertake the task of establishing
the Buddhist canon. Ananda, having been for a long period of time at the side
of Shakyamuni, was responsible to recite what teachings the Buddha had
expounded, i.e. Sutta-pitaka. Upali, the first in taking precepts amongst the
disciples, was responsible for the rules of disciples of the Order i.e.
Vinaya-pitaka. Mahakashyapa himself recited and edited the commentaries, i.e.
Abhidhamma, or Shastra.
After they had completed their recitation, the Bhiksus in the assembly
examined the words to make sure that their meanings were correct, and then all
recited them together in unison, each monk in this way thinking over the words
again and memorizing them. Each recitation was submitted for scrutiny and
approval in the assembly.
Only when a version that all could consent to had been reached, the joint
recitation would take place. The final scriptures were written on Pattra, the
palm leaves for writing in ancient time. The Buddhist canon compiled at the
First Council was knowned as the Tripitaka
consisting of three parts, Sutta-pitaka, Vinaya-pitika and Abhidhamma. It was
regarded as the earliest and original teaching of the Buddha, serving as a
basis of absolute authority. It was also called Agama which meant "sacred
teaching".
There are another names for the First Council, such as:
Sthavira means the elder and senior monks
with 20 to 49 years standing (i.e. time after ordination). The intermediate
monks were those with 10-19 years standing, while the junior with less than 10
years standing. Sthavira sometimes refers to the title given to Mahakashapa,
who chaired the First Council. It was later developed to Theravada tradition.
37.3 The Council "outside the cave"
In the same period, another group of Bhiksus who was originally not the
followers of Mahakashyapa, gathered "outside the cave" 20 miles away in
northwest of The Cave of the Seven Leaves. The council was led by Bhaddiya,
one of the Five Bhiksus. The participating
Bhiksus also recited and compiled their own version of the Buddhist canon, but
with wider scope of interests in the Buddha's teaching. The canon was later
the basis of the Mahasanghika school of
thought.
It seems that the elder Bhiksus in the cave led by Mahakashyapa concentrated
their attention upon the rules of discipline for the continuation of the
monastic community. However, Shakyamuni's teachings had not been intended
only for the Bhiksus, but for all mankind to gain enlightenment and liberate
from suffering. It is again natural for the lay believers to expect different
standards and rules of discipline for different groups of people within the
Buddhist community. For instance, the Bhiksus were expected to observe strict
rules of discipline and to devote themselves in religious practice, while the
lay believers did not. Certainly, it was one of the factors leading to the
subtle differences in outlook that characterized the Sthavira school, centered
about the monastic community, and the Mahasanghika school, serving the needs
in lay community.
37.4 Sthavira and Mahasanghika
Sthavira and Mahasanghika were the two earliest sections of Buddhism.
Literally, Sthavira referred to "the Teaching of the Elders," the intimate and
older disciples, while Mahasanghika referred to the "Members of the Great
Order", the rest in Buddhist community. The former put more emphasis on the
rules of discipline and the continuation of the monastic order, while the
latter was characterized by the mission of salvating all sentient beings
particularly in lay community. At first, they were not considered to be
different schools as there was no record of any struggle between orthodoxy and
heterodoxy between the two schools.
Strictly speaking, they served different needs in the Buddhist community with
the common goal - the continued existence of the Dharma. It was no point to
agree which school was more important than the other, as the effort
contributed by both schools were equally great.
Once Ananda asked Shakyamuni whom he should follow after Shakyamuni's death.
Shakyamuni Buddha replied that the precepts were the teacher in Buddhism. It
is no doubt that taking precepts and observing the rules of discipline is the
most important religious practice in Buddhism, particularly in the monastic
community.
However, Shakyamuni also spent the greater part of his lifetime working to
spread his teachings in lay community so that all people, not just the monks,
gained enlightenment. A monk should
prepare to sacrifice his own being for the welfare of mankind - liberation
from the sufferings and attainment of wisdom. It was certainly the original
meaning of Buddhism.
37.1 The Background of the First Council
37.2 The Council in the Cave
37.3 The Council "outside the cave"
37.4 Sthavira and Mahasanghika