95 



in a strong light, the genuine ones. To prevent, in future, the recurrence 

 of similar evils so detrimental to religion, all the preachings of Buddha, 

 as well as the disciplinary rules, shall be arranged under several heads, 

 and committed to writing. The books, containing the above, shall be 

 held as sacred."* 



This, the first great Council, wap accordingly held at Rajagaha, 

 the capital of Ajatassato or Magadha (South Behar), three months 

 after the death of Gautama. It was attended by 500 of the chief 

 of his disciples: and the 'Mulla-linkara-wouttoo,' "f from which 

 Bigandet translates the life of Buddha, and which gives a narrative 

 of the steps taken for the preservation as well as the propagation of 

 his doctrines, describes the proceedings as follows. After forty days' 

 preparation, all being assembled, Kassapa, as president, inquired 

 which of the three parts, the Instructions, the Discipline, or the 

 Metaphysics, should first be considered. The Discipline obtaining 

 the preference, the thero Upali was chosen as its expositor. Kassapa 

 thereupon questioned him upon the contents of the Vinaya, com- 

 mencing with the first section ; and after each answer, addressing 

 the assembled Council, said, " Brethren, you have all heard what 

 regards the circumstances connected with the first Parajika : Let 

 this article be noted down, and its admission be proclaimed aloud. 



* Bigandet's Life of Gaudama, pp. 335, 336, and 350. It is only fair to the 

 Bishop to state, that he does not agree with his author in regard to the writing 

 mentioned in the text. He says, " I feel inclined to believe that this expression 

 is put into the mouth of the Patriarch, and that, in all likelihood, he never uttered 

 it. It is probable that during the first ages of Buddhism, the doctrines were not 

 put in writing, but orally transmitted. For supporting this apparently incredible 

 assertion, we have the testimony of the authors of the Sinhalese collection, who 

 distinctly state, that during more than 200 years after the introduction of the 

 religion in Ceylon, tradition was the only vehicle for transmitting the contents of 

 the Pitagat." 



f The precise date of the composition of this work is not known. But it is 

 said to have been written long before the invention of gunpowder. 



