THE MAHAVAMSA

Account of First Council

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.”

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Ref: Vinaya Pitakam – I.B Horner:
(Author’s Note: Horner translation was edited for brevity)

 

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 “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)

Then the venerable Kassapa questioned venerable Ananda as to the origin of Brahmajala and he questioned Ananda as to the individual. Then the venerable Kassapa questioned venerable Ananda as to the origin of Sumannapala and he questioned Ananda as to the individual. In this same way, Mahakassapa questioned Ananda about the five nikayas.

Confusion for Ananda’s Comment “Lesser and Minor Rules Can be Abolished”:
Then the venerable Ananda spoke thus to the elders:
The lord spoke thus to me at the time of his attaining Nibbana. “If the order, Ananda,, after my death is willing, lesser and minor rules of training may be abolished”

“But did you reverend Ananda, ask the Lord, saying: but which Lord are the lesser and minor rules of training?”

“Honored sirs, I did not ask the Lord saying “which Lord are the lesser and minor rules of training”

Then some elders spoke thus: “Except the rules for the four offenses involving defeat, rest are lesser and minor rules of training”

Some elders said “Except the rules for the four offenses involving defeat, plus thirteen offenses entailing a formal meeting of the order, the rest are lesser and minor rules of training”

Then various elders gave their interpretation of lesser and minor rules of training.

Then Mahakassapa said thus: “Let the order listen to me. If we were to abolish lesser and minor rules of training, there would be some who say “While the teacher was among them, they trained themselves in the rules of training. Now the teacher has attained Nibbana, they do not train themselves in the rules of training. If it seems right to the order, order should not lay down what has not laid down, nor should it abolish what has been laid down. It should proceed in conformity with and according to the rules of training that have been laid down. If this is acceptable to the order, they should be silent. If it is not pleasing, order should speak”.

“The order is silent, therefore it is pleasing to the order”.

Elders Tell Ananda to Accept Responsibility for Not Asking Lord of Lesser and Minor Rules:

Then the monks who were elders spoke thus to venerable Ananda:
“It is an offense of you, in that you did not ask the Lord saying, “But, which Lord are the lesser and minor rules of training. Confess that offense of wrongdoing”

Then Ananda spoke thus: “Honored sirs, Out of un-mindfulness, I did not ask the Lord saying, But, which Lord are the lesser and minor rules of training. I do not see that as an offense of wrongdoing, yet out of reverend for the venerable ones, I confess that as an offense of wrongdoing”.

Elders Tell Ananda to Accept Responsibility for Stepping on Lord’s Cloths:

“This too is an offense of you, venerable Ananda, You sewed Lord’s cloth for rains after having stepped on it. Confess that offense of wrongdoing”
“Honored sirs, Not out of disrespect I sewed Lord’s cloths for rains after having stepped on it. I do not see that as an offense of wrongdoing, yet out of reverend for the venerable ones, I confess that as an offense of wrongdoing”.

Elders Tell Ananda to Accept Responsibility for Letting Weeping Women Honor Lord’s Body First:

“This too is an offense of you, venerable Ananda, In that you had the Lord’s body honored by weeping women. Lord’s body was defiled by tears. Confess that offense of wrongdoing””
“Honored sirs, Do not let these be here at a wrong time, had the Lord’s body honored first of all by women. I do not see that as an offense of wrongdoing, yet out of reverend for the venerable ones, I confess that as an offense of wrongdoing”.

Elders Tell Ananda to Accept Responsibility for Not Asking Lord to Live Longer:

“This too is an offense of you, venerable Ananda, In that hint was given, a palpable sign was being made, and did not ask the Lord saying “Let the Lord remain a full lifespan for the welfare of many, for the happiness of many, out of compassion for the world”

“Honored sirs, Because my mind was obsessed with Mara, (Prince of Death) I did not ask the Lord saying “Let the Lord remain a full lifespan for the welfare of many, for the happiness of many, out of compassion for the world. I do not see that as an offense of wrongdoing, yet out of reverend for the venerable ones, I confess that as an offense of wrongdoing”.

Elders Tell Ananda to Accept Responsibility for Campaigning to Admit Women to the Order:

“This too is an offense of you, venerable Ananda, In that you made an effort to accept women to the order of sangha in the dhamma and discipline proclaimed by the truth finder. Confess that as an offense of wrongdoing”

“Honored sirs, I made an effort to accept women into the order of sangha in dhamma and discipline proclaimed by the truth finder thinking “Gotami Prajapathi the Great is the Lord’s aunt, foster mother, giver of milk, when the Lord’s mother passed away, she suckled him. I do not see that as an offense of wrongdoing, yet out of reverend for the venerable ones, I confess that as an offense of wrongdoing”.

Venerable Purana Does Not accept the First Sangayana:

The monks who were elders spoke thus to the venerable Purana: “Reverend Purana…Dhamma and discipline have been chanted by monks who are elders. Submit yourself to this chanting”

Then venerable Purana answered thus: “Your reverences, Dhamma and discipline was well chanted by elders. But I received and heard Dhamma in the presence of Lord. In that same way I will bear it in my mind”

End of Chulavagga account of the first council

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