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learned of Buddha's disciples) recited the Metaphysics of the doctrine. Upali, the oldest disciple, repeated the laws or rules of discipline, and lastly Ananda, the St. John of Buddhism repeated the parables and sermons of Buddha. These were collected to. gether and formed the Three Pitakas (baskets) of Buddhism, and were known respec. tively as the Abidharma, Vinaya and Sutra Pitakas. About a century after the first council, it was found necessary to call a second council at Vaisali, as the discipline had become very lax, owing to a system of
Indulgences' having come into use. This council condemned the system of 10 indulgences, which ultimately led to the separation of the Buddhists into 2 distinct parties. The third great Buddhist council was convened at Patna by Asoka in 244 B.C. This council did much to put down heretical doc. trines which had sprung up, and thus made the distinction between the more and less strict school, sharper and clearer. It must
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
