It is true that buddhism should have been kept under one stream and teaching but there are also tales of different buddhism groups..
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The authentic teachings of the Buddha Gotama have been preserved and handed down to us.
The Suttanta Pitaka contains the Discourses.
It is known, that whenever the Buddha gave a discourse in the course of his forty-five year ministry, his devoted and learned monks then present would immediately commit his teachings word for word to memory. And because it was a chanting of the words done collectively by many people, any deviation will immediately be noted. Thus the Buddha's words were preserved accurately and were passed down orally from teacher to pupil.
One such monk was Ananda. Ananda was highly intelligent and gifted with the ability to remember whatever he had heard spoken. Indeed, it was his express wish that the Buddha always relate all of his discourses to him, and he deliberately committed to memory word for word all the Buddha's sermons with which he exhorted monks, nuns and his lay followers.
Indeed, in this day and age we are fortunate to have the authentic teachings of the Buddha preserved for future generations through the conscientious and concerted efforts of his ordained disciples down through the ages.
The Buddha had said to his disciples that when he was no longer amongst them, that it was essential that the Sangha should come together for the purpose of collectively reciting the Dhamma, precisely as he had taught it. This ensures its accuracy. In compliance with this instruction the first Elders duly called a council and systematically recited them word for word in concert.
These discourses number thousands and have always been recited word for word ever since the First Council was convened. Subsequently, more Councils have been called for a number of reasons but at every one of them the entire body of the Buddha's teaching has always been recited by the Sangha participants, in concert and word for word.
The first council took place three months after the Buddha's death and attainment of Parinibbana and was followed by five more, two of which were convened in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
King Ajatasattu sponsored the First Council. It was convened in 544 B.C. three months after the Buddha had passed away. A detailed account of this historic meeting can be found in the Cullavagga of the Vinaya Pitaka.
The Second Council was held near the city of Vesali in 100 B.E. (Buddhist Era) (443 B.C). It was held because the bhikkhus of the Vajji clan from Vesali practised ten unlawful modifications in the Rules of the Order. The seven hundred Arahants, led by Venerable Yasa, Venerable Sabbakami and Venerable Revata, took part in that council. At this council, the erring monks broke away to form a new branch, this was the great schism.
The Third Council was held in the city of Pataliputta in 235 B.E, (308 B.C). Sixty thousand ascetics had already infiltrated into the Sangha Order and polluted the Master's Teaching by their corrupt and heretical views. That is the main reason why the Third Council was held by one thousand Arahants, presided over by Venerable Mahamoggaliputta Tissa. The authentic teachings were again recited and approved and subsequently, nine missions were sent to nine different places, as far as Indonesia, to propagate the Sasana.
The Fourth Council was held in Sri Lanka, in 450 B.E (94 B.C). Later in 83 B.C., the Tipitaka was, for the first time committed to writing in Ceylon (Sri Lanka, now) on the ola leaves. Five hundred bhikkhus, led by Venerable Mahadhammarakkhita, inscribed the entire words of the Buddha's Teachings on palm leaves. When books of these leaves were piled together, it was said to exceed the heights of six elephants.
The Fifth Council was convened at Mandalay in Burma (Myanmar now) in 2415 B.E (AD 1871). The scriptures were inscribed on seven hundred and twenty-nine marble slabs at the foot of Mandalay Hill. This is the BIGGEST OPEN book in the world! The words of the Buddha were literally carved in stone!
The Sixth and the last Great Council was held at Rangoon (Yangon now) again in Burma in 2498 B.E (AD1954). The Most Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw and Mingun Sayadaw took the leading roles in that council. At that Council, not only the canonical Pali Texts of the Buddha but also the commentaries and sub-commentaries were re-examined and approved.
The most wonderful thing about all these massive instructions, both in theory and practical aspects, is that it can be verified at any time by any able person who will steadfastly practise with Nibbana as the ultimate goal and realises the Truths and joins the exclusive membership of Enlightened Beings (Ariya persons) even in this very life.
The size of the Tipitaka Texts do not frighten the followers as the Buddha made it clear in His numerous discourses that only the knowledge realised through meditation is the final key to Nibbana, the ultimate peace. But before we become enlightened in this life or future lives, we as Buddhists, have to live the Buddhist way of life, in accordance with what the Buddha taught. So, preservation of the Buddha's Teaching (Buddha's Sasana) is very important for us as well as for the future generations.
The authentic teachings of the Buddha Gotama have been preserved and handed down to us.
The Suttanta Pitaka contains the Discourses.
It is known, that whenever the Buddha gave a discourse in the course of his forty-five year ministry, his devoted and learned monks then present would immediately commit his teachings word for word to memory. And because it was a chanting of the words done collectively by many people, any deviation will immediately be noted. Thus the Buddha's words were preserved accurately and were passed down orally from teacher to pupil.
One such monk was Ananda. Ananda was highly intelligent and gifted with the ability to remember whatever he had heard spoken. Indeed, it was his express wish that the Buddha always relate all of his discourses to him, and he deliberately committed to memory word for word all the Buddha's sermons with which he exhorted monks, nuns and his lay followers.
Indeed, in this day and age we are fortunate to have the authentic teachings of the Buddha preserved for future generations through the conscientious and concerted efforts of his ordained disciples down through the ages.
The Buddha had said to his disciples that when he was no longer amongst them, that it was essential that the Sangha should come together for the purpose of collectively reciting the Dhamma, precisely as he had taught it. This ensures its accuracy. In compliance with this instruction the first Elders duly called a council and systematically recited them word for word in concert.
These discourses number thousands and have always been recited word for word ever since the First Council was convened. Subsequently, more Councils have been called for a number of reasons but at every one of them the entire body of the Buddha's teaching has always been recited by the Sangha participants, in concert and word for word.
The first council took place three months after the Buddha's death and attainment of Parinibbana and was followed by five more, two of which were convened in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
King Ajatasattu sponsored the First Council. It was convened in 544 B.C. three months after the Buddha had passed away. A detailed account of this historic meeting can be found in the Cullavagga of the Vinaya Pitaka.
The Second Council was held near the city of Vesali in 100 B.E. (Buddhist Era) (443 B.C). It was held because the bhikkhus of the Vajji clan from Vesali practised ten unlawful modifications in the Rules of the Order. The seven hundred Arahants, led by Venerable Yasa, Venerable Sabbakami and Venerable Revata, took part in that council. At this council, the erring monks broke away to form a new branch, this was the great schism.
The Third Council was held in the city of Pataliputta in 235 B.E, (308 B.C). Sixty thousand ascetics had already infiltrated into the Sangha Order and polluted the Master's Teaching by their corrupt and heretical views. That is the main reason why the Third Council was held by one thousand Arahants, presided over by Venerable Mahamoggaliputta Tissa. The authentic teachings were again recited and approved and subsequently, nine missions were sent to nine different places, as far as Indonesia, to propagate the Sasana.
The Fourth Council was held in Sri Lanka, in 450 B.E (94 B.C). Later in 83 B.C., the Tipitaka was, for the first time committed to writing in Ceylon (Sri Lanka, now) on the ola leaves. Five hundred bhikkhus, led by Venerable Mahadhammarakkhita, inscribed the entire words of the Buddha's Teachings on palm leaves. When books of these leaves were piled together, it was said to exceed the heights of six elephants.
The Fifth Council was convened at Mandalay in Burma (Myanmar now) in 2415 B.E (AD 1871). The scriptures were inscribed on seven hundred and twenty-nine marble slabs at the foot of Mandalay Hill. This is the BIGGEST OPEN book in the world! The words of the Buddha were literally carved in stone!
The Sixth and the last Great Council was held at Rangoon (Yangon now) again in Burma in 2498 B.E (AD1954). The Most Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw and Mingun Sayadaw took the leading roles in that council. At that Council, not only the canonical Pali Texts of the Buddha but also the commentaries and sub-commentaries were re-examined and approved.
The most wonderful thing about all these massive instructions, both in theory and practical aspects, is that it can be verified at any time by any able person who will steadfastly practise with Nibbana as the ultimate goal and realises the Truths and joins the exclusive membership of Enlightened Beings (Ariya persons) even in this very life.
The size of the Tipitaka Texts do not frighten the followers as the Buddha made it clear in His numerous discourses that only the knowledge realised through meditation is the final key to Nibbana, the ultimate peace. But before we become enlightened in this life or future lives, we as Buddhists, have to live the Buddhist way of life, in accordance with what the Buddha taught. So, preservation of the Buddha's Teaching (Buddha's Sasana) is very important for us as well as for the future generations.
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