Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 1

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Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 14 At this time, Ananda still had not attain Arahathhood. Mahakassapa said to Ananda, that the council would gather tomorrow, therefore strive hard and reach Arahathhood. Next day five hundred bhikkus met together and left a seat for Ananda. When Ananda finally came to the meeting hall, he flew through air to the seat. Thera Upali for Vinaya Pitaka and Thera Ananda for Rest of Dhamma: The gathering of the bhikkus selected Upali Thera to explain the Vinaya pitaka (code of discipline) and Thera Ananda for rest of the Dharma. Mahakassapa questioned Thera Upali on Vinaya pitaka. Thera Upali explained the Vinaya Pitaka as he heard from Buddha. After establishing the Vinaya pitaka, Mahakassapa questioned Ananda thera on sutta pitaka. All the theras repeated Dharma, in turn after Ananda. It took seven months to compile the complete Dharma. Since the canon was established by the theras, it was known as Theravadha. (Author’s Note: Mahathera Mahanama, the author of the first section of Mahavamsa, goes through the first Sangayana briskly. Detailed account of the first Sangayana is given in Chulavagga in Vinaya pitaka. Chulavagga account is considered to be the oldest version of the first council). Chulavagga (Vinaya Pitaka) Account of First Council: (Ref: Vinaya Pitakam – I.B Horner) (Author’s Note: Horner translation was edited for brevity). After the death of Buddha, Subaddha told the rest of the monks “Do not grieve….We are well rid of the great recluse. We were worried when he said, this is allowable to you and this is not allowable to you. But now since he is no more, we will be able to do as we like”. After hearing Subaddha’s comments, venerable Kassapa addressed the monks “Lets chant Dhamma and Discipline (Vinaya) before what is not Dhamma shines and Dhamma withheld. Before what is not discipline shines and discipline withheld.” Ananda was Selected Though He Still was a Learner: Then Mahakassapa selected five hundred elder monks, less one. Then the monks told venerable Kassapa: “Honored sir, This Ananda, although still a learner, could not be one to follow the wrong course through desire. He has mastered much Dhamma and discipline under the master. Well, now honored sir, lets the elder select the venerable Ananda as well”. Then venerable Kassapa selected venerable Ananda as well. Then it occurred to the monks, “Where shall we chant Dhamma and discipline?”. Then it occurred to the monks that at Rajagaha lodging and alms (food) are abundant. Thus, they selected Rajagaha for the chanting. Then venerable Kassapa told the order of monks
Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 15 “Your reverences…Let the order listen to me. If it seems right to the order, the order may agree upon these five hundred monks to chant Dhamma and discipline, while they are spending rains at Rajagaha”. The order of monks agreed and five hundred monks went to Rajagaha. Then it occurred to the monks who were elders “Let us make repairs to the broken parts of the building during the first month”. Then the monks, who were elders made repairs to the building. (Mahavamsa says King Ajasatthu built a hall by the side of the Vebraha rock). Ananda Becomes an Arahath: The venerable Ananda, thinking “Tomorrow is the assembly. Now it is not suitable for me to go to the assembly as a learner”. Ananda spent most of the night in meditation. Before the night was spent, Ananda became an Arahath. Next day venerable Ananda went to the assembly as a perfected one. (As per Mahavamsa, Mahakassapa asked Ananda to attain Arahathship prior to the meeting. Further Mahavamsa says, Ananda got to his seat by moving above ground so that other monks knew that he had become an arahath. These events do not appear in Chulavagga in Vinaya pitaka). First Sangayana: Then venerable Kassapa informed the order that he would question Thera Upali on discipline. Then Mahakassapa questioned venerable Upali “Where was the first offense involving defeat laid down?” (Parajika Dharma) “At Vesali, honored sir” “Regarding whom” “Regarding Sudinna” “On what subject” “On sexual intercourse” Then Mahakassapa questioned as to what was further laid down, as to its origin, what was an offense and what was not an offense. Then Mahakassapa questioned Thera Upali on other offenses involving defeat. (Taking what is not given, taking life etc). Then Mahakassapa informed the order “If it seems right to the order, I could question Ananda about Dhamma”. “Where, Reverend Ananda, was the Brahmajala spoken?” “Honored Sir, Between Rajagaha and Nalanda in the royal rest house at Ambalatthika” “with whom?” “Suppiya the wonderer and Brahmadhattha the Brahmin youth” (Brahmajala is the first sutta in Digha nikaya)
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