________________
627
'Life is transient. Where can one meet him again'?
"At that time, one parivrājaka named Subhadra was seated there in that group. Said he,
'Monks ! Don't be overwhelmed with grief. Don't lament for the loss. In a sense, his liberation is a boon to us. We were suppressed by him in many ways. He would tell us so often, - this is good for you, this is not good for you. Henceforth we shall do what we like, and we shall not do what we do not like. It will be good for us if we codify dharma and vinaya. Impiety is fast coming up and virtue is yielding ground; bad conduct is replacing good conduct. Impious people are becoming powerful and pious ones are becoming weak, People with good conduct are waning and people with bad condur tare flourishing like anything'.
"The monks said in one voice,
Bhante ! You may kindly prepare a list of senior monks (who may undertake the work of codification)!
"Mahākāssapa agreed. Mahákássapa prepared a list which had 499 names. The monks submitted again,
'Bhante ! Though long-lived Ananda is not yet an arhat, yet he is a man who has conquered attachment, malice, affection, fear, indiscipline. Being a constant companion of the Buddha, he has acquired enough to dharma and vinaya. May his name be included in the list'!
"Mahākāssapa included Ananda in the list. In this manner, 500 monks were elected.
"In considering the venue where the Council should meet, the monks decided in favour of Rajagrha which is a large city with considerable facility for loding for so many people. It was decided that a monsoon should be spent there in the codification of dharma and vinaya. It was also decided that other monks should not come to Rajagrha during this period.
