Buddhist councils

Buddhist councils are formal assemblies convened by the monastic community, known as the sangha. These gatherings serve several vital purposes for the faith. They are held to discuss doctrine and monastic discipline. They also act as a way to revise and correct the contents of the Buddhist canons. The term for these councils is saṅgīti. This word literally means "reciting together" or "joint rehearsal."

The mechanism of a council relies on oral recitation to preserve teachings. During these meetings, participants recite the scriptures aloud to ensure everyone remembers them correctly. At the First Council, the monk Ananda recited the suttas, which are the spoken discourses of the Buddha. Another monk named Upali recited the Vinaya, which contains the rules for monastic discipline. This process of joint recitation helped create a shared understanding of the faith's foundations.

There are different types of councils and different ways they are recorded. The First Council is a central event in many traditions. It was held one year after the Buddha's passing. It took place in a cave near Rājagṛha with the support of King Ajatashatru. Mahākāśyapa, a senior disciple, presided over the meeting. Traditional accounts suggest 499 top arhats attended. Ananda joined the council after attaining arahatship on the very morning of the event.

History shows that these councils sometimes lead to significant changes or divisions. The Second Council occurred more than 100 years after the Buddha's death. It was held in the Valukarama of Vaiśālī under the patronage of King Kalashoka. This council was triggered by disagreements over monastic practices. Some monks were accused of following lax rules, such as accepting money from laypersons. These disputes are often described as the "ten points" of controversy.

These disagreements can lead to a schism, which is a formal split in a religious group. The Second Council resulted in the first major schism in the sangha. One group, the Sthaviras or "Elders," held to orthodox views. Another group, the Mahāsāṃghikas, formed a separate sect. This group included about ten thousand monks. They held their own recital and disagreed with the Sthavira version of the Vinaya rules.

Modern scholars study these councils to understand what is historically accurate. There is debate about the "historicity," or the historical truth, of some accounts. Some scholars believe the descriptions of the First Council were written much later. They point to differences in the texts regarding meditation and other topics. Other researchers, like Louis Finot, believe the accounts are authentic due to similarities between different traditions. The study of these councils helps historians trace how Buddhist schools developed over time.

These councils are deeply connected to the development of the Tipitaka, the Buddhist canon. The Tipitaka is divided into three main parts: the Sutta Pitaka, the Vinaya Pitaka, and the Abhidhamma Pitaka. While the first two were central to early councils, scholars believe the Abhidhamma was composed at a later date. This is because its language and style differ from the other sections. By studying these assemblies, we see how a single tradition grew into many different branches of thought.