Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c23.s6: The story in brief
Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c23.s6
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The story in brief
v1.c23.s6.1
At Subhadda's (or Upānanda's) words apprehending lack of discipline in the church, Mahākassapa proposed a Council of 500 Arhats for taking a stock of Buddha's teachings. The proposal was made at Kuśinārā and the site selected for the session of the Council was Rājagṛha. Mahākassapa tried to include all the old arhats living at the time among the members of the Council and succeeded in securing the co-operation of arhats like Ājñāta Kauṇḍinya, the two Kāśyapas, and Anuruddha, but failed to persuade Gavāmpati (who was one of the few friends of Yaśa to be converted by Buddha) and Purāṇa (the abbot of Dakkhiṇāgiri) to take part or acquiesce in the proceedings of the Council. The presence of Ānanda as the repository of Buddha's teachings in the Council was felt indispensable but as he was not an Arhat, he could not be included without the special permission of the Saṅgha. Fortunately Ānanda attained arhathood immediately before the session of the Council and was admitted into the Council, as a matter of course. The Council was held at Rājagṛha, all the necessary arrangements for seats and residence of monks having been made by Ajātaśattu. Upāli was selected unanimously to recite the Vinaya rules and Ānanda the Suttas. On the completion of the recitation, Ānanda mentioned about the *khuddakānukhuddakāni sikkhāpadāni*, the abrogation of which was permitted by Buddha but the exact significance of which was not ascertained by him. This failing of Ānanda was brought to the notice of the Council. Ānanda did not regard these failings of his as anything serious but out of reverence to the wishes of the Saṅgha, he made the formal confession for getting absolution.¹
v1.c23.s6.2
¹ In this account the disciplinary action taken against Channa is related thus: Ānanda then announced to the Saṅgha that Buddha had asked him to punish a monk called Channa by *brahmadaṇḍa*, and this he was going to do at Kauśāmbi. Ānanda reached Kauśāmbi. The queen of King Udena approached him with gifts, which were doubled by the King himself after he had been pleased with a talk with Ānanda. Channa on his being so punished made a strong effort for arhathood and attained it soon. He then approached Ānanda to have *brahmadaṇḍa* withdrawn but in reply he was told that the moment he had attained arhathood the *daṇḍa* had ceased. [A monk punished with *brahmadaṇḍa* is not admonished or instructed by any other monk and he is left to do whatever he likes Prof. La Vallée Poussin uses the appropriate synonym "boycotting."]