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28 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE

Elders, preserved from the First
Council up until the Second Council.
The 10,000 monks whose views
on the Vinaya were denounced in
the Second Council formed a new
faction, calling themselves the
“Majority Saṅgha” (Mahāsaṅghika,
the predecessor to the Mahāyāna).
Thus, two schools of Buddhism
formed: the Mahāsaṅghika and the
Theravāda.

Furthermore, 236 years after the
Buddha’s Parinibbāna the Third
Buddhist Council was convened
by Indian Emperor Asoka in
Pātaliputta. Headed by Arahant
Moggalīputta Tissa with the
participation of 1,000 Arahants, it
lasted for nine months. Later on,
Arahant Mahinda, son of Emperor
Asoka, who was fortunate enough
to become Enlightened the very day
he received ordination, and who
learned and committed to memory
Matale, Sri Lanka from 440-454 B.E. It is clear when studying the
the entire Tipiṭaka in only three
during the reign of King Valagambā; suttas that the Buddha taught
years, came to Sri Lanka to spread
500 Arahants presided over by the Dhamma with three distinct
the Dhamma. As a result of Arahant
Arahant Kuntagatta Tissa wrote goals in mind. First, to guide his
Mahinda’s successful Dhamma
down the Dhamma and Vinaya disciples to achieve success in
propagation, millions of Arahants
in Pāli for the first time on palm this life. Second, to gain rebirth in
were born in Sri Lanka.
leaves. Thus, the Dhamma and the heavenly worlds after death.
Discipline transmitted through the Third, to realize the Dhamma
Later, however, a famine struck Sri
oral tradition beginning at the First and gain liberation from all
Lanka. Many Arahants died during
Council comes down to us today suffering. With these objectives
this famine while the few who
in written form in the Theravāda in mind, not only did he teach his
escaped to South India survived.
Tipiṭaka. Dhamma to monks and nuns
The monks who survived the famine
who had renounced the household
realised that the continuance of the
Many young people tend to think life, but he also taught lay people
teaching as an oral tradition was no
of Buddhism as more suited for living amidst society with jobs,
longer safe. The surviving Arahants
older people or those who are family, and various obligations.
convened and recited the teachings
interested in a monastic lifestyle. Having heard the Dhamma, some
in a landmark event in the history
While this is not true, how do we gave up lay life and ordained as
of Buddhism at the Fourth Buddhist
change this public misconception monks and nuns to fully commit
Council, where arrangements were
and explain that the Buddha’s to the practice, whereas most
made to commit the Dhamma to
teachings are for all mankind? practiced the Dhamma as lay
writing. Then, at the Alu Vihāra,
disciples while leading their day-