Consider the following statements with respect to Buddhist Councils:1....
(i) The first Buddhist Council was held at Rajagraha under the chairmanship of Mahakasapa immediately after the death of Buddha. Its purpose was to maintain the purity of the teachings of the Buddha. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
(ii) The second Buddhist Council was convened at Vaisali around 383 B.C. The third Buddhist Council was held at Pataliputra under the patronage of Asoka. Moggaliputta Tissa presided over it. The final version of Tripitakas was completed in this council. The fourth Buddhist Council was convened in Kashmir by Kanishka under the chairmanship of Vasumitra. Asvagosha participated in this council. The new school of Buddhism called Mahayana Buddhism came into existence during this council.
(iii) The Buddhism preached by the Buddha and propagated by Asoka was known as Hinayana. So, during the earlier Buddhist Councils the debate between followers of Hinayana and Mahayana sects was not found as the Mahayana tradition as a different sect did not come into existence. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
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Consider the following statements with respect to Buddhist Councils:1....
First Buddhist Council:
- The First Buddhist Council was held at Rajgriha, the capital of the Magadha kingdom, soon after the passing away of Gautama Buddha.
- The council was presided over by Mahakassapa, one of Buddha's senior disciples.
- Its purpose was to recite and preserve the teachings of Buddha, known as the Tripitaka, and to settle any disputes or disagreements that may have arisen among the disciples.
- The council consisted of 500 arhats (enlightened disciples) who had attained the highest level of spiritual realization.
- The teachings were recited and verified by the council members, and any discrepancies were resolved through discussion and consensus.
Debate between Mahayana and Hinayana traditions:
- The terms Mahayana and Hinayana are used to categorize different branches or traditions within Buddhism.
- The Mahayana tradition emerged several centuries after the passing away of Buddha, and it emphasized the idea of the Bodhisattva, who seeks enlightenment not only for oneself but also for the benefit of all sentient beings.
- The Hinayana tradition, also known as Theravada, focuses on personal liberation and the path of the arhat.
- The debate between these two traditions did not occur in every Buddhist Council.
- The First Buddhist Council mainly focused on preserving and reciting the teachings of Buddha, rather than engaging in theological debates.
- The Mahayana and Hinayana traditions emerged and developed over time as Buddhism spread to different regions and interacted with various cultures and philosophies.
- Subsequent Buddhist Councils, such as the Second and Third Councils, were convened to address specific issues within the sangha (community of monks) but did not necessarily involve debates between Mahayana and Hinayana traditions.
Correct answer:
- The correct answer is option 'D' - Neither 1 nor 2.
- The First Buddhist Council was not presided over by Gautama Buddha himself but by Mahakassapa.
- The debate between Mahayana and Hinayana traditions did not occur in every Buddhist Council but emerged and developed over time as Buddhism spread.
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