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Buddhist Council

Reference

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First Buddhist Council:

Conducted under the patronage of King Ajatasatru of Haryanka dynasty.

The council was established in order to arrive at a consensus on how the teachings of the Buddha could be spread further.

It was held in 483 BC just after Buddha’s demise.

It was held at Sattapani caves (Sattaparnaguha) in Rajagriha.

The monk who presided over the first council was Mahakassapa.

Main objective was to preserve the Buddha’s teachings.

At this council, Ananda composed the Suttapitaka (Buddha’s Teachings) and Mahakassapa composed the Vinaypitaka (monastic code).

Second Buddhist Council:

Conducted under the patronage of King Kalasoka of Sisunaga dynasty.

It was held in 383 BC, i.e., a hundred years after the Buddha’s death.

It was held at Vaishali.

Sabakami presided over the council.

The main objective was to discuss ten disputed points under the Vinaypitaka.

The first major split happened here – two groups that would later evolve into Theravada and Mahayana. The first group was called Thera (meaning Elder in Pali). They wanted to preserve the teachings of Buddha in the original spirit. The other group called Mahasanghika (Great Community) interpreted the Buddha’s teachings more liberally.

Third Buddhist Council:

Conducted under the patronage of Emperor Ashoka of Maurya dynasty.

It was held in 250 BC at Pataliputra.

The council was presided over by Mogaliputta Tissa.

Main objective was to purify Buddhism from opportunistic factions and corruption in the Sangha.

The Abhidhamma Pitaka was composed here making the almost completion of the modern Pali Tipitaka.

Buddhist missionaries were sent to other countries.

Buddhism preached by Emperor Ashoka was Hinayana.

Fourth Buddhist Council:

Conducted under the patronage of King Kanishka of Kushan dynasty.

It was held in the 1st century AD at Kundalvana in Kashmir.

Vasumitra and Ashvaghosha presided over this council

All deliberations were conducted in Sanskrit.

Here, Abhidhamma texts were translated from Prakrit to Sanskrit.

This council resulted in the division of Buddhism into two sects namely, Mahayana (the Greater Vehicle) and Hinayana (the Lesser Vehicle).

Mahayana sect believed in idol worship, rituals and Boddhisattvas. They regarded the Buddha as God. Hinayana continued the original teachings and practices of the Buddha. They adhere to the scriptures written in Pali while the Mahayana includes Sanskrit scriptures as well.

First Buddhist Council:</a></h4>

<ul><li> 
Conducted under the patronage of King Ajatasatru
of Haryanka dynasty.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
The council was established in order to arrive
at a consensus on how the teachings of the Buddha could be spread further.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
It was held in 483 BC just after Buddha’s
demise.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
It was held at Sattapani caves (Sattaparnaguha)
in Rajagriha.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
The monk who presided over the first council was
Mahakassapa.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
Main objective was to preserve the Buddha’s
teachings.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
At this council, Ananda composed the Suttapitaka
(Buddha’s Teachings) and Mahakassapa composed the Vinaypitaka (monastic
code).</li></ul>

<h4><a name="_Toc188279394">Second Buddhist Council:</a></h4>

<ul><li> 
Conducted under the patronage of King Kalasoka
of Sisunaga dynasty.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
It was held in 383 BC, i.e., a hundred years
after the Buddha’s death.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
It was held at Vaishali.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
Sabakami presided over the council.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
The main objective was to discuss ten disputed
points under the Vinaypitaka.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
The first major split happened here – two groups
that would later evolve into Theravada and Mahayana. The first group was called
Thera (meaning Elder in Pali). They wanted to preserve the teachings of Buddha
in the original spirit. The other group called Mahasanghika (Great Community)
interpreted the Buddha’s teachings more liberally.</li></ul>

<h4><a name="_Toc188279395">Third Buddhist Council:</a></h4>

<ul><li> 
Conducted under the patronage of Emperor Ashoka
of Maurya dynasty.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
It was held in 250 BC at Pataliputra.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
The council was presided over by Mogaliputta
Tissa.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
Main objective was to purify Buddhism from
opportunistic factions and corruption in the Sangha.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
The Abhidhamma Pitaka was composed here making
the almost completion of the modern Pali Tipitaka.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
Buddhist missionaries were sent to other
countries.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
Buddhism preached by Emperor Ashoka was
Hinayana.</li></ul>

<h4><a name="_Toc188279396">Fourth Buddhist Council:</a></h4>

<ul><li> 
Conducted under the patronage of King Kanishka of
Kushan dynasty.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
It was held in the 1st century AD at Kundalvana
in Kashmir.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
Vasumitra and Ashvaghosha presided over this
council</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
All deliberations were conducted in Sanskrit.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
Here, Abhidhamma texts were translated from
Prakrit to Sanskrit.</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
This council resulted in the division of
Buddhism into two sects namely, Mahayana (the Greater Vehicle) and Hinayana
(the Lesser Vehicle).</li></ul>

<ul><li> 
Mahayana sect believed in idol worship, rituals
and Boddhisattvas. They regarded the Buddha as God. Hinayana continued the
original teachings and practices of the Buddha. They adhere to the scriptures
written in Pali while the Mahayana includes Sanskrit scriptures as well.</li></ul>" class="editor "><h4><a name="_Toc188279393">First Buddhist Council:</a></h4>