Buddhist councils were important meetings where Buddhist monks and scholars gathered to discuss and preserve the teachings of Gautama Buddha. Buddhist councils helped ensure the Buddha’s message was accurately passed down through generations.
Buddhist councils also provided a platform for resolving disagreements and clarifying Buddhist doctrines. By studying these councils, we can learn a lot about the history and development of Buddhism.
Buddhist Councils
Table of Content
What is a Buddhist Council?
- Buddhist Councils are gatherings organized by Buddhist monastic communities and monks after the passing of Buddha Siddhartha Gautama.
- These assemblies focus on reciting Buddhist literature, texts, and philosophy.
- The main objectives include reviewing, editing, and clarifying the contents of the Sutras, resolving doctrinal and disciplinary disputes, and determining the best course of action.
- Six Buddhist councils have been held throughout history, each chaired by different monks and hosted by various rulers.
- The primary goals of Buddhist councils are to preserve the sanctity of Buddhism and promote its propagation.
- Reliable historical data on these councils is limited, but significant Buddhist writings containing accounts of these gatherings serve as important sources of evidence.
- The six Buddhist Councils mark significant moments in Buddhist history, with the first council occurring in the fifth century BCE following Gautama Buddha’s passing, and the most recent one taking place in 1954 in Burma (now Myanmar).
History of Buddhist Council
First Buddhist Council (circa 483 BCE):
- Held shortly after the passing of Gautama Buddha in Rajgir, India.
- Presided over by Mahakassapa and attended by 500 arhats (enlightened monks).
- Aimed to recite and codify the Buddha’s teachings (Sutras) and Vinaya (monastic rules).
- Resulted in the compilation of the Tripitaka (Three Baskets) – the teachings, discipline, and philosophical discourse of Buddhism.
Second Buddhist Council (circa 383 BCE):
- Held in Vesali, India, a century after the first council.
- Primarily focused on the adoption of stricter monastic rules by the Mahasanghika sect.
- Led to the division of the Buddhist sangha into two major schools: Theravada and Mahasanghika.
Third Buddhist Council (circa 250 BCE):
- Convened by Emperor Ashoka in Pataliputra (present-day Patna, India).
- Aimed to reconcile doctrinal differences and purify the Sangha from corruption.
- Resulted in the establishment of the Sarvastivada and Vibhajjavada schools and the dispatch of Buddhist missionaries to spread the Dharma (teachings) beyond India.
Fourth Buddhist Council (circa 1st century CE):
- Held in Kashmir under the patronage of King Kanishka.
- Addressed philosophical and doctrinal disputes, particularly concerning the Abhidharma (higher teachings).
- Led to the compilation of commentaries and interpretations of Buddhist texts, contributing to the development of Mahayana Buddhism.
Fifth Buddhist Council (5th century CE):
- Convened in Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma), under the sponsorship of King Mindon.
- Aimed to purify and standardize the Theravada Tipitaka (Pali Canon).
- Resulted in the meticulous recitation and recording of Buddhist scriptures and commentaries.
Sixth Buddhist Council (1954 CE):
- Organized in Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar (Burma), under the patronage of Prime Minister U Nu.
- Aimed to recite and preserve the entire Theravada Tipitaka in Roman script to facilitate its dissemination to the Western world.
- Resulted in the publication of the “Sixth Council Edition” of the Pali Canon.
List of Buddhist Council
1st Buddhist Council (circa 483 BCE):
- At Rajgriha’s Sattapanni caves, the First Buddhist Council convened.
- The event was held under King Ajatashatru’s leadership.
- Monk Mahakasyapa presided over the First Buddhist Council.
- The First Buddhist Council’s agenda included upholding the monastic code and rules for monks (Vinaya), as well as the Buddha’s teachings (Sutta).
- It took place shortly after the Buddha’s passing.
- Ananda, one of the monks, recounted the Suttas, and Upali, the Vinaya.
- In this council, the Abhidhamma Pitaka was also recited.
2nd Buddhist Council (circa 383 BCE):
- The second Buddhist council met about a century after the Buddha’s passing.
- The location of the council was Vaishali.
- Under the patronage of King Kalasoka, it was called to order.
- The priest Sabakami presided over it.
- This council’s goal was to resolve the disagreement over the Vinaya (discipline standards) that the monks at Vaishali adhered to.
- The second Buddhist council marked the split of monks into two groups:
- Mahasanghikas – The group of monks who followed the rules of Vaishali monks and relaxed practices.
- Theravadins – A community of monks who maintained the core principles of the Buddha’s teachings.
3rd Buddhist Council (circa 250 BCE):
- It was conducted under the support of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka.
- It took place at Pataliputra in 250 BC.
- Mogaliputta Tissa presided over the council.
- The primary goal was to rid Buddhism of corrupt Sangha and opportunistic factions.
- This is where the was composed, bringing the modern Pali Tipitaka nearly to completion.
- Missionaries of Buddhism were dispatched to several nations.
- Hinayana Buddhism was a form of Buddhism that Emperor Ashoka promoted.
4th Buddhist Council (circa 1st century CE):
- It was carried out with the support of King Kanishka of the Kushan dynasty.
- In the first century AD (72 AD), it took place in Kashmir’s Kundalvana.
- Ashvaghosha and Vasumitra presided over this council.
- Every discussion was held in Sanskrit.
- Sanskrit translations of Abhidhamma books were done here from Prakrit.
- Buddhism was split into the Mahayana (the Greater Vehicle) and Hinayana (the Lesser Vehicle) factions as a result of this meeting.
- The Mahayana sect revered Bodhisattvas, rituals, and idols. The Buddha was revered as God by them. The fundamental teachings and practices of the Buddha were carried on by Hinayana. They follow the texts written in Pali, but the Mahayana also includes those written in Sanskrit.
5th Buddhist Council (5th century CE):
- At Mandalay, in what was then known as Burma, Myanmar, the fifth Buddhist council was held.
- It was supported by the Kingdom of Burma’s King Mindon.
- The leaders of the Fifth Buddhist Council were Sumangalasami, Narindabhidhaja, and Jagarabhivamsa.
- This council’s agenda included reciting all of the Buddhist teachings and closely examining each one in detail.
- Since representatives from all the major Buddhist nations were absent from the council—aside from Burma—the council is essentially unrecognized outside of Myanmar.
6th Buddhist Council (1954 CE):
- Eighty-three years after the Fifth Council was held in Mandalay, the Sixth Council was called in Kaba Aye, Yangon (formerly Rangoon), in 1954.
- The Honourable U Nu, the then-prime minister of Burma, led the government that supported it.
- He gave the go-ahead for the building of the Maha Passana Guha, often known as the “great cave,” an artificial cavern modeled after Sattapanni Cave in India, the site of the first Buddhist Council. The Council convened on May 17, 1954, following its completion.
- Its primary goal, like with the previous councils, was to uphold and protect the authentic Dhamma and Vinaya.
- It was distinct, though, because the monks who participated were from eight different nations.
- The Tripiṭaka and its related literature in all the scripts were attentively examined, any mistakes were noted, the appropriate repairs were made, and all the versions were then compiled. The traditional recitation of the Buddhist Scriptures took two years.
Buddhist Councils With Places
The Following is the six Buddhist councils Gautama Buddha’s passing away in 483 B.C,:
|
Year |
Council |
Place |
|---|---|---|
|
400 BC |
1st Budhhist Council |
Rajagriha in Magadha |
|
383 BC |
2nd Buddhist Council |
Vaishali, India |
|
250 BC |
3rd Buddhist Council |
Pataliputra, India |
|
72 AD |
4th Buddhist Council |
Tambapanni, in Sri Lanka |
|
1871 |
5th Buddhist Council |
Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar) |
|
1954 |
6th Buddhist Council |
Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar) |
Important Buddhist texts:
Buddhist writings were gathered and assembled almost 500 years after the Buddha’s passing. The most important sources of Buddhism are the Tripitakas / Tipitaka written in the Pali language. They are:
- Sutta Pitaka
- Vinaya Pitaka
- Abhidhamma Pitaka
- Dhammapada: A portion of the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Sutta Pitaka. It is a collection of verses that are said by the Buddha.
- Milinda Panha: Exact translation into Pali. It was written sometime around 100 BC. It contains an exchange of inquiries concerning Buddhism between the philosopher Nagasena and the Indo-Greek King Menander I, popularly known as Milinda of Bactria.
- The epic poem Buddhacharita was written in Sanskrit at the start of the second century AD by Ashvaghosha. The life of the Buddha is the topic.
- The Tripitaka, also known as the Pali Canon, is the whole body of Buddhist texts. It consists of the Vinaya Pitaka, which contains guidelines for monks and nuns, the Sutta Pitaka, which contains the Buddha’s discourses, and the Abhidhamma Pitaka, which offers philosophical and psychological analysis.
Spread of Buddhism:
India is where Buddhism first emerged in the sixth century BCE. Over the following few centuries, it quickly expanded throughout Asia. Numerous elements contributed to the spread of Buddhism, including:
- The journeys undertaken by Buddhist monks who brought the Buddha’s teachings to foreign lands.
- The assistance of leaders who funded the establishment of Buddhist temples and monasteries.
- The appealing qualities of Buddhism’s gentle and peaceful teachings. People from many origins and civilizations could relate to this.
- Eventually, Buddhism reached every region of Asia and portions of Europe and Africa. With more than 500 million adherents, it is currently one of the largest faiths in the world.
Decline of Buddhism In India:
When Muslim forces entered the region in the 12th century CE, Buddhism in India started to vanish. Numerous Buddhist temples and monasteries were destroyed. Numerous monks died or had to escape. Over the following centuries, Buddhism’s downfall persisted. Buddhism had all but vanished from India by the 1800s.
The demise of Buddhism in India can be attributed to several things. Among them are:
- The growth of Islam and Hinduism challenged Buddhism for followers.
- Numerous Buddhist temples and monasteries were destroyed by the Muslim forces’ assault.
- The number of explorers able to spread the Buddhist teachings decreased as trade and commerce declined.
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Conclusion on Buddhist Councils
The Buddhist Councils are gatherings that have been called over the years following the demise of Gautama Buddha to recite the traditional teachings and scriptures. They also kept his standards of discipline and his teachings, known as the Sutta. The councils were also established to resolve theological disagreements. While the fifth and sixth Buddhist councils—which are convened in what is now Myanmar—are mostly ignored outside of Burma, the first four were held in antiquity and are acknowledged by all.
Buddhist Councils – FAQs
What are Buddhist Councils?
Buddhist Councils were gatherings in ancient India to preserve Buddha’s teachings, settle disputes, and establish the core Buddhist texts.
How many Buddhist Councils were there?
There were six Buddhist Councils held throughout history.
Where was 4 Buddhist council held?
The Fourth Buddhist Council took place in Kundalavana (Kashmir) in 72 AD, resulting in the division of Buddhists into Hinayana and Mahayana sects.
Reasons for the decline of Buddhism in India?
Buddhism in India declined due to lost patronage, Hindu revival, internal disputes, invasions, and assimilation with Hinduism, worsened by Islamic conquests and scholarly decline, leading to its diminished influence.
Impact of Buddhist Councils on Buddhism in India?
The Buddhist Councils played a vital role in preserving and disseminating the teachings of Gautama Buddha.
They resolved doctrinal disputes and organized monastic communities, contributing to the unity and adaptation of Buddhism in India.
Why was the first Buddhist Council held?
The purpose of the first Buddhist Council was to uphold the Vinaya, or monastic discipline, and the suttas, or sayings of the Buddha.
What role does the Fourth Buddhist Council play?
The council was called in response to a year when Sri Lanka had exceptionally low harvests, which led to the starving deaths of numerous Buddhist monks.
In Buddhism, how many councils are there?
Six Buddhist councils were called at one point in Buddhism’s ancient history. These councils were presided over by different monks and hosted by different monarchs.
Which primary Buddhist texts are there?
The Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, and Abhidhamma Pitaka are the three main Buddhist texts. We call them Tripitakas.
Why were the first two Buddhist Councils important?
Setting up a framework for appropriate monastic discipline and reaching a consensus on Gautama Buddha’s real teachings were the main goals of the first two councils that took place following his death.
Which Council of Buddhism split Buddhism into two sets?
The Kushan King Kanishka of Kashmir supported Vasumitra during the Fourth Council, which divided Buddhism into the Mahayana and Hinayana factions.
What are the main concerns of Buddhist councils?
The main issue of the council seems to have been related to Vinaya or monastic discipline related to several loose practices by monks at Vaisali. According to traditional sources, disputes over monastic rule at the Second Council resulted in the first schism in the Sangha.
How many Bhuddhist Councils are there?
There are generally recognized to be three major Buddhist Councils in history:
- First Buddhist Council (circa 483 BCE)
- Second Buddhist Council (circa 383 BCE)
- Third Buddhist Council (circa 250 BCE)