Lzh Mu Kd 19Council of the Five Hundred
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pañcasata
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Council of the Five Hundred (Pañcasata)
Background
The Council of the Five Hundred (Pañcasata) is a momentous event in the history of the original Buddha-Dharma, recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, particularly in the Mahāvibhaṅga. This event took place immediately after the parinirvana of Śākyamuni Buddha, when his disciples needed to preserve and transmit the Dharma teachings that the Blessed One had expounded.
According to the Theravāda tradition, the Venerable Arahat Mahā Kaccāna or Ānanda is considered to have played an important role in this council. The Council of the Five Hundred was convened to assemble five hundred fourth-fruit arhats for the purpose of composing, verifying, and preserving the entirety of the Buddha-Dharma, encompassing the Sutta Piṭaka, the Vinaya Piṭaka, and the Abhidhamma Piṭaka.
This event took place in the city of Rājagaha, under the patronage of King Ajātasattu, who had once committed a grave transgression but had thereafter repented and sincerely taken the Buddha-Dharma to heart. The gathering of arhats of profound wisdom—especially those who had been directly confirmed by the Buddha himself—served to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the transmitted teachings.
Principal Contents
The Council of the Five Hundred took place in an atmosphere of the utmost solemnity and Dharma practice. The arhats undertook the task of recollecting in full all the teachings of the Blessed One, sūtra by sūtra, precept by precept. This process was carried out by a collective method, in which senior elder monks would in turn recite what they had heard directly from the Buddha, after which the other members would confirm or correct any discrepancy.
Most notably, the Venerable Ānanda, renowned for his extraordinary memory (Mahāṭhapanā), held a pivotal role in the recitation of the sūtra collections. The Venerable Upāli, one of the five companions held in especial regard by the Buddha, presided over the recitation of the Vinaya Piṭaka with great detail and precision.
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