A BRIEF HISTORY OF BUDDHISM Part 3

 A BRIEF HISTORY OF BUDDHISM Part 3 - 

EARLY BUDDHISM/THE 1ST BUDDHIST COUNCIL/THE 2ND BUDDHIST COUNCIL/KING ASOKA’S PROPAGATION

 ●◆● ════ ◆◇◆ ════ ●◆●

 

Early Buddhism:

Early Buddhism remained centred in and around the Ganges valley region, spreading gradually from its ancient heartland. The canonical sources record two councils, where the monastic Sangha established the textual collections based on the Buddha's teachings, as well as settling certain disciplinary problems within the community.

 The 1st Buddhist Council (6th Century BCE):

The first Buddhist council was held just after the Buddha's Parinirvana, and was presided over by one of the Buddha's most senior disciples, Venerable Mahakasyapa, at Rajagṛha (modern day Rajgir) during the 6th century BCE, under the noble support of King Ajathasatru. The objective of the council was to record all of Buddha's teachings into the doctrinal teachings (Sutra's) and the Abhidharma (higher knowledge teachings on Buddhist philosophy and psychology), and to codify the monastic rules of conduct (Vinaya).

 Ananda, one of the Buddha's main disciples, and his younger cousin and long-time attendant, was called upon to recite the Discourses and the Abhidharma of the Buddha, and Upali, another disciple, recited the rules of conduct of the Vinaya. These became the basis of the Tripiṭaka (Three Collections), which was initially preserved in Pali.

 The 2nd Buddhist Council (4th Century BCE):

The second Buddhist council was held at Vaisali following a dispute that had arisen in the Sangha over a relaxation by some monks of various points of discipline. At this second council the original Vinaya texts that had been preserved at the first Council were cited to show that these relaxations went against the recorded teachings of the Buddha.

 King Asoka’s Propagation (261 BCE):

The Mauryan King Asoka (273-232 BCE) converted to Buddhism after his bloody conquest of the territory of Kalinga (modern day Odisha) in Eastern India during the Kalinga War. Regretting the horrors and misery brought about by the conflict, the king magnanimously decided to renounce violence, to replace the misery caused by war with respect and dignity for all humanity.

 He propagated Buddhism by building stupas and pillars, urging, amongst other things, respect for all animal life and enjoined people to follow the Buddha Dharma. Perhaps the finest example of these is the Great Stupa of Sanchi, (near Bhopal, India), which was constructed in the 3rd Century BCE and later enlarged. Its carved gates, called toranas, are considered among the finest examples of Buddhist art in India. He also built roads, hospitals, rest-houses, universities and irrigation systems around the country. He treated his subjects as equals regardless of their religion, politics or caste.

 This period marks the first spread of Buddhism beyond India to other countries. According to the plates and pillars left by Asoka (the edicts of Asoka), emissaries were sent to various countries in order to spread Buddhism, as far south as Sri Lanka and as far west as the Greek Kingdoms, in particular the neighbouring Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, and possibly even farther to the Mediterranean.”

●◆● ════ ◆◇◆ ════ ●◆●

~ Dharmacharya Andrew. J. Williams~