First Sangha
└ Mahāsāṃghika
├ Ekavyahāraka
├ Lokottaravāda
├ Bahuśrutīya
├ Prajñaptivāda
└ Caitika
└ Sthaviravāda
├ Mahīśāsaka
├ Dharmaguptaka
├ Kāśyapīya
├ Sarvāstivāda
└ Vibhajyavāda
└ Theravāda
The First Buddhist council was convened in the year following the
Buddha's Parinibbana,[1] which is 543–542 BCE according to Theravada
tradition, at various earlier dates according to certain Mahayana
traditions, and various later dates according to certain Western
estimates.[2] According to late commentarial accounts, King
Ajatashatru (Sanskrit अजातशत्रु) sponsored the council. Tradition
holds that the Council was held in a hall erected by Ajatasattu
outside the Sattaparnaguha (Pali: Sattapanniguha)or Saptaparni Cave in
Rajgir, three months after the Buddha had attained "Parinibbhana"
(i.e. died). Detailed accounts of the council can be found in the
Khandhaka sections of the canonical Vinayas.
According to this record the incident which prompted the Elder
Mahakassapa to call this meeting was his hearing a disparaging remark
about the strict rule of life for monks. The monk Subhadda, who had
ordained late in life, upon hearing that the Buddha had expired,
voiced his resentment at having to abide by all the rules for monks
laid down by the Buddha. Many monks lamented the passing of the Buddha
and were deeply grieved but Subhadda spoke up to show happiness and
relief that Buddha was gone.
And Subhadda, the late-received one, said to the Bhikkhus:
"Enough, Sirs! Weep not, neither lament! We are well rid of the great
Samana. We used to be annoyed by being told, 'This beseems you, this
beseems you not.' But now we shall be able to do whatever we like; and
what we do not like, that we shall not have to do."[3]
Mahakassapa was alarmed by his remark and feared that the Dhamma and
the Vinaya might be corrupted and not survive intact if other monks
were to behave like Subhadda and interpret the Dhamma and the Vinaya
rules as they pleased. To avoid this he decided that the Dhamma must
be preserved and protected. To this end after gaining the Sangha's
approval he called to council five hundred Arahants.[3] Ananda was to
be included in this provided he attained Arahanthood by the time the
council convened.[4]
With the Elder Mahakassapa presiding, the five hundred Arahant monks
met in council during the rainy season. The first thing Mahakassapa
did was to question the foremost expert on the Vinaya of the day,
Venerable Upali on particulars of the monastic rule. This monk was
well qualified for the task as the Buddha had taught him the whole of
the Vinaya himself. The Elder Mahakassapa asked him specifically about
the ruling on the first offense parajika, with regard to the subject,
the occasion, the individual introduced, the proclamation, the
repetition of the proclamation, the offense and the case of
non-offense. Upali gave knowledgeable and adequate answers and his
remarks met with the unanimous approval of the presiding Sangha. Thus,
the Vinaya was formally approved.
The Elder Mahakassapa then turned his attention to Ananda in virtue of
his reputable expertise in all matters connected with the Dhamma.
Happily, the night before the Council was to meet, Ananda had attained
Arahantship and joined the Council.[4][1] The Elder Mahakassapa,
therefore, was able to question him at length with complete confidence
about the Dhamma with specific reference to the Buddha's sermons. This
interrogation on the Dhamma sought to verify the place where all the
discourses were first preached and the person to whom they had been
addressed.
Ananda aided by his word-perfect memory was able to answer accurately
and so the Discourses met with the unanimous approval of the Sangha.
The First Council also gave its official seal of approval for the
closure of the chapter on the minor and lesser rules, and approval for
their observance. It took the monks seven months to recite the whole
of the Vinaya and the Dhamma and those monks sufficiently endowed with
good memories retained all that had been recited. This historic first
council came to be known as the Pancasatika because five hundred fully
enlightened Arahants had taken part in it.
The Sattapanni Cave in Rajgir, where the First Buddhist Council
may have been held.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Buddhist_council
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