The Buddha passed away in His 8Oth year on the full-moon day of Vesak. His death was an irreparable loss. All His followers, with the exception of Anagamins and Arahants, were plunged in deep grief and were weeping and lamenting. But an immoral Bhikkhu named Subhadda, who had entered the Order in his old age, was the only one that rejoiced over His death.

 “Grieve not brothers,” said he. “Weep not. We are now delivered of that Great Ascetic. He constantly worried us, saying ’This is suitable, this is not suitable.’ Now we are free to do what we like.”

These unexpected words that fell from the lips of a disciple, when hardly a week has passed since the death of the Teacher, induced the Venerable Kassapa, the third chief Disciple of the Buddha to Hold a Council of Leading Arahants in order to protect and fortify the Sanana. The other Theras were consulted, and they welcomed the suggestions.

King Ajatasatu was informed of the intention of the Sangha, and he made al! the necessary arrangements for the Sangha to assemble at the entrance to the Sattapanni Cave in Rajagaha.

Five hundred seats were prepared in the spacious hall, but only Four hundred & Ninety Nine distinguished Arahants were chosen for the Convocation. The vacant seat was meant for the Venenable Ananda who was then a Sotapanna. But in due time, as anticipated, he attained Arahantship and appeared on the scene by his psychic powers to occupy the vacant seat.

The Venerable Kassapa was the presiding Thera. The Venerable Upali and Ananda were chosen to rehearse the Vinaya and Dhamma respectively.

The first council was held three months after the Parinibbana of the Buddha, in the eighth year of King Ajatasattu’s reign. It lasted seven months.
 

Tipitaka

The Vinaya being the life-blood of the sasana was rehearsed first. It is composed of five books-namely,

I. Parajika Pali -Major Offences
II. Pacittiya Pali - Minor Offences
III. Mahavagga Pali - Greater Section
IV. Culavagga Pali - Smaller Section
V. Parivara Pali - Epitome of the Vinaya
 

The Dhamma consists of Five Nikayas - namely,

I. Digha Nikaya - Collection of Long Discourses
II. Majjhima Nikaya - Collection of Middle-length Discourses
III. Samyutta Nikaya - Collection of Kindred
IV. Anguttara Nikaya - Collection of Discourses arranged in accordance with number
V. Khuddaka Nikaya - Smaller Collection
 

The fifth is subdivided into fifteen books:-

I. Khuddaka Patha - Shorter Texts
II. Dhammapada - Way of Truth
III. Udana - Paeans of Joy
IV. Iti Vuttaka - “Thus said” Discourses
V. Sutta Nipata - Collected Discourses
VI. Vimana vatthu - Stories of Celestial Mansions
VII. Peta vatthu - Stories of Petas
VIII. Theragatha- Psalms of the Brethren
IX. Therigatha- Psalms of the Sisters
X. Jataka - Birth Stories
XI. Niddesa - Expositions
XII. Patisambhida-Analytical Knowledge
XIII. Apadana - Lives of Arahants
XIV. Buddhavamsa - The History of the Buddha
XV. Cariya Pitaka - Modes of Conduct

It should be noted that the introductory words in every sutta - "Evam me sutam, thus have I heard" - were uttered by the Venerable Ananda Thera.

The Abhidhamma, according to tradition, was rehearsed by all Arahants that were present at the Convocation. It consists of the following seven books: -

I. Dhamma Sangani - Classification of Dhammas
II. Vibhanga - The Book of Divisions
III. Kathavatthu - Points of Controversy
IV. Puggala Pannani - Description of Individuals
V. Dhatukatha- Discussion with reference to Elements
VI. Yamaka - The Book of the Pairs
VII. Patthana - The Book of Relations

All these 31 books are collectively termed the Tipiraka (Three Baskets). The First Vinaya Piraka (Basket of Discipline) mainly deals with rules and regulations, which the Buddha promulgated, as occasion arose for the future discipline of the Order of Monks (Bhikkhus) and Nuns (Bhikkhunis).

The Sutta Pitaka (Basket of Discourses) Consists chiefly of discourses delivered by the Buddha on various occasions. Some discourses delivered by the Venerable Sariputta, Moggallana, Ananda, etc., are also included in it. The Abhidhamma Pitaka
(Basket of Ultimate Doctrine) contains the profound philosophy of the Buddha’s Teaching.

The Tipitaka was first committed in writing at Aluvihara in Sri Lanka about 80 B,C, in the reign of King Vacthagamani Abhaya.
 

The Second Council

The Second Council was held at Vesali in the tenth year of King Kalasoka’s reign,100 years after the Parinibbana ot the Buddha,

Ten Unlawful Points

At that time in Vesali many shameless Bhikkus of the Vajji clan claimed that the following ten points were not unlawful: -

1. Singilonakappa, it is fit to use salt in horns etc. in order to season unsalted foods.

2. Dvangulakappa, it is fit to eat food as long as the sun’s shadow has not passed the meridian by more than two fingers’ breadth,

3. Gamantarakappa, it is fit for a Bhikkhu who has already finished his meal to eat another meal without going through the due Vinaya rite if he intends to enter a village.

4. Avasakappa, it is fit to perform the Uposatha ceremony in separate buildings in the case of a large Sima (Jurisdiction).

5. Anumatikappa, it is fit to perform any Vinaya ceremony first and then take the consent of the absent Bhikkhus,

6. Acinnakappa, it is fit to conform to the practice of teachers and preceptors.

7. Amafhitakappa, it is fit for a Bhikkhu Who has finished his mea1 to drink that milk which has changed its orginal state but has not yet become curd, without getting the due Vinaya rite done.

8. Jalogikappa, it is fit to drink unfermented palm-wine.

9. Adasaka-nisidanakappa, it is fit to use mats without fringes.

10. Jatarupadikappa, it is fit to accept gold and silver,

Venerable Yasa, who came to hear of these heretical teachings, resolved even at the cost of his life to nip them in the bud. He succeeded. The Venerable Revata who was questioned about them pronounced that they were all unlawful.

Ultimately, in the presence of eight distinguished Arahants who had assembled at Valukarama in Vesali, the Venerable Sabbakami, the most senior Arahant, being One hundred and Twenty years from his Upasampada, questioned by the Venerable Revata, adjudged that they were all unlawful according to the Vinaya.

After which the venerable Revata chose Seven hundred distinguished Arahants to hold a Council in order to protect the Dhamma. This second council lasted eight months. King Kalasoka acted as the Royal Patron. The Venerable Sabbakami was the presiding Thera.

Amongst the assembled Arahants Sabbakami, Salha, Revata, Khujjasobhita, Yasa, Sambhuta and Sanavasika, all pupils of the Venerable Ananda and Vasabhagamika and Sumana, pupils of the Venerable Anuruddha had the good fortune to live in the Buddha’s own time.
 

The Third in Council

The conversion of King Dharmasoka was a very grat asset to Buddhism. With his loyal patronage Buddhism flourlish, and the Sasana gradually grew up in importance and numbers. Tempted by worldly gain, many undesirables of alien sects joined the Order and polluted the sasana by their corrupt lives and heretical views.

The Venerable Monggaliputta Tissa, who was then the senior Arahanat, being aware of the pollution of the Order, refrained from performing the Uposatha Ceremony with the Sangsa for seven years, and was living in retirement on the banks of Ahoganga.

It was at this time King Dharmasoka entertained a doubt about thoughtless act done by an irresponsible minister. He was told that Arahant Moggaliputta Tissa would be able co clear his doubt. The King sent word to the Arahant, but he would not come. Failing twice, the third time he sent a messenger inviting him to come to protect the Sasana. The Venerable Thera accepted the invitation and arrived at Pataliputra. The King received him with due honour and accommodated him in Asokarama, built by the King himself. For seven days the King stayed with him, and studied the Dhamma sitting at his feet.

The Bhikkhus were then tested with regard to their views, and the undesirables were eliminated from the Noble Order, The pure Bhikkhus that remained performed the Uposatha for the first time after seven Years.  The Arahant Moggaliputta Tissa availed himself of this opportunity to hold the third Council in order to protect the Dhamma and the Sasana.  One Thousand Arahants participated in the Council which was held at Asokarama, in Pataliputra (Patna) in the 18th year of King Asoka's reign, about Two hundred, and Thirty Six years after the Parinibbana of the Buddha. The Venerable Moggaliputta Tissa was the presiding Thera, and it was he who was responsible for the composition of the Kathavatthu-Pakarana, one of the seven books of the Abhidhamma, at this august Assembly.