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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 27

Piṭaka from Pāli into lucid Sinhala. tradition developed many First Council, it was decided that
Though a Sinhala translation of the centuries later in Sri Lanka after the Dhamma and Vinaya should be
Sutta Piṭaka is already available the Buddha’s passing away? committed to memory and passed
in the Buddha Jayanti Tripiṭaka, it on from one generation to the next
uses an old style of Sinhala used To say that the Theravāda tradition as an oral tradition.
th
in the Polonnaruwa Era (circa 12 developed many centuries later
century) making it difficult for the in Sri Lanka after the passing The Second Buddhist Council
average person to understand. With away of the Buddha is a major occurred 100 years after the
the new translation, one doesn’t misconception. Since the Pāli Canon Buddha’s Parinibbāna, after
have to be a Pāli or Sinhala scholar is the earliest surviving record of disputes arose over controversial
to study the Teachings of the the Buddha’s Teachings, preserved points of Vinaya. Monks from Vesālī
Buddha. in a single school of Buddhism, the were engaging in ten practices
Theravāda, it is our most reliable which other prominent, esteemed
Lay Buddhists may now learn the source for the original Teachings of monks considered contrary to
Dhamma by studying translations the Buddha. Theravāda is known as the Vinaya. The dispute was
of the Pāli texts. Since reliable the “Doctrine of the Elders,” because later settled, and the ten points
translations of the Sutta Piṭaka the Teachings and history of the were denounced by the Elders as
are available in other modern Buddha’s Dispensation, as recorded contrary to the Vinaya. Thereafter,
languages too (English, German, in the Theravāda Tipiṭaka, date back Arahant Revata determined that it
etc.), the rare chance to learn to the First Buddhist Council. At was necessary to convene another
the marvellous Dhamma of the the First Council, which took place Buddhist Council so as to prevent
Buddha is now widely accessible. three months after the Buddha’s the further occurrence of such
I believe in using modern, simple Parinibbāna, 500 Arahants led by disputes and so that the Buddha’s
language in translations, exercising the Great Arahant Mahā Kassapa Dispensation may last long.
special care so as not to distort convened at Rājagaha, India in a Presided over by Arahant Revata,
the meaning of the original text magnificent hall erected in front of with the participation of 700
nor introduce personal views that the Sattapanni Cave to preserve the Arahants under the patronage of
misrepresent the Dhamma. Buddha’s Teachings for posterity. King Kālāsoka, the Second Buddhist
Venerable Arahant Upāli recited Council took place in Vesālī and
I understand Mahamevnawa the Vinaya and Venerable Arahant lasted for eight months.
Monastery wants to teach the Ānanda recited the Suttas. For
Buddha’s message in its original seven months the 500 Arahants Thus, for the first 100 years after
form. How do we know what conducted the First Council in order the Buddha’s Parinibbāna, only
are the original teachings of the to establish the definitive body Theravāda Buddhism existed, that
Buddha, for even the Theravada of the Buddha’s Teachings. At the is, the Buddhism according to the