Buddhist councils
Topic: Buddhism, Jainism and Heterodox Traditions · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings"
Meaning
The Buddhist councils were meetings of senior monks. They gathered to collect, recite and settle the Buddha's teachings and to resolve disputes in the sangha. The Buddha taught only by word of mouth, and none of his speeches were written down in his lifetime. After his death (c. fifth–fourth century BCE), NCERT says his teachings were compiled at a council of "elders" at Vesāli (Vaiśhālī, in present-day Bihar). Buddhist tradition counts several councils. The First was at Rājagaha (Rajgir), the Second at Vaiśhālī, the Third at Pāṭaliputra under Asoka, and the Fourth in Kashmir under Kanishka.
Example
The teachings compiled at these councils were later arranged into the Tipitaka ("three baskets"). The Vinaya Pitaka holds the rules for the sangha, the Sutta Pitaka the Buddha's teachings, and the Abhidhamma Pitaka philosophy.
Don't confuse with
- Sangha meetings: the sangha's ordinary affairs were settled through discussion to reach agreement, and by a vote if that failed. Councils were rare, large meetings held to settle the scriptures themselves.
Related concepts
- Tipitaka
- Vinaya Pitaka
- Sutta Pitaka
- Abhidhamma Pitaka
- Abhidhamma Divas
- Pali
- Pali classical language
- First Buddhist council
- Second Buddhist council
- Sthaviravada and Mahasanghika