Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c28.s2: Differences in the First Council Proceedings
Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c28.s2
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Differences in the First Council Proceedings
v2.c28.s2.1
In the proceedings of the First Council it will be observed that Mahākassapa was keen on securing the approval of all the senior monks, particularly, of Gavampati and Purāṇa, of the texts settled by his Council as *Buddhavacana*.¹ Gavampati remained neutral, i.e., he did not wholeheartedly accepted the proceedings of the Council as final while Purāṇa expressed his inability to accept the same as the words of the Teacher.² He further insisted on the incorporation into the Vinaya of eight rules relating to food.³ The Mahīśāsaka Vinaya not only upheld these eight rules as pointed out by Prof. Przyluski⁴ and also gave special recognition to Purāṇa as one of the foremost teachers of the time.
v2.c28.s2.2
¹ See *EMB*, I, p. 331-2.
v2.c28.s2.3
² *Cullavagga*, xi. 1 11.
v2.c28.s2.4
³ The eight rules (as translated by Suzuki from Chinese) are:— (i) cooking food indoors; (ii) cooking indoors; (iii) cooking of one' own accord; (iv) taking food of one's own accord; (v) receiving food when rising early in the morning; (vi) carrying food home in compliance with the wish of the giver; (vii) having miscellaneous fruits; and (viii) eating things grown in a pond.
v2.c28.s2.5
⁴ Przyluski, *Le Concile de Rājagṛha*
v2.c28.s2.6
All these testimonies clearly indicate that the seeds of dissensions had already been sown in the Saṅgha during Buddha's life-time and that these sprouted forth in full vigour in the second century after Buddha's demise.⁵
v2.c28.s2.7
⁵ See Infra, Ch. VII.
Linked texts (1)
- Cullavagga — Pāli