Story Of The Buddha & Buddhism ( Part 53 - 56 )

Part 53

Dona, the professor, distributing the sacred relics Of the Buddha to the rules of eight states

Just before the Buddha passed away, he made a resolute wish that, "the bones of my body may be left over as relics in small bits" so that posterity may reverence them. Ajatasattu and other rulers heard of the Buddha's death and came out with their own armies to fight for the possession of the sacred relics of the Buddha, if they should fail to get them by peaceful means. Dona the Brahmin was a virtuous professor who happened to have been a teacher of those rulers.

There was a great excitement and disorder amongst the crowds present who were preparing to loot the relics. Now Professor Dona got up on an eminence and shouted at the crowd in an authoritative tone, when the din was silenced. Then he spoke to the crowd beginning with the words, "Listen to me, your teacher. Our Lord, the Buddha, used to preach on forbearance";. Then as agreed by the rulers of the eight states, the Professor distributed the sacred relics to them. They took the relics away and placed them inside pagodas and shrines and revered them as objects of worship.

Part 54

The First Buddhist Council

About seven days after the Buddha had passed away, the Venerable Mahakassapa heard of His death, while he was resting on his way from Pava to Kusinara together with 500 Theras. All the junior Theras were plunged in deep grief and were weeping and lamenting. But a monk named Subhadda, who had entered the Order in his old age, was the only one that rejoiced over His death. "Grieve not, brothers" he said, "weep not, we are now delivered of that Great Ascetic. He constantly worried us, saying ' This is proper, this is not proper'. Now we are free to do what we like"

These unexpected words that fell from the lips of a disciple alarmed the Venerable Mahakassapa who became very concerned about the future of the Buddha's religious system, but kept quiet. When the Buddha's relics had been distributed, the Venerable Mahakassapa consulted the other Theras and suggested to them to hold a Council of leading Arahants to collect, classify and rehearse the teachings of the Buddha in order to protect and fortify the Sasana against such attacks as might be expected from monks of the type of Subhadda. They all welcomed the suggestion. King Ajatasattu was informed of the intention of the Samgha, and with his help the First Buddhist council was held at Rajagaha with 500 Arahants.


Part 55

Venerable Yasa's efforts to hold the second Buddhist council for the offense of monks collecting money

About 100 years after the death of the Buddha, monks of the Vajji clan did certain acts which were not becoming of monks. They begged for money, even an anna (a nickel) or two, from lay devotees who came to the monastery on Uposatha days to keep their precepts. The Venerable Yasa then said that it was not fit for monks to handle money. For that reason, they imposed a Vinaya Act on the Venerable Yasa by which it was made obligatory for the person who said so to tender an apology to lay devotees for alleged interference with their charitable motives.

The Venerable Yasa went to the lay devotees and explained the true purport of the Buddha's teachings; and when the lay devotes understood it they showed no further respect to monks who begged for alms in cash. The Venerable Yasa approached the distinguished Arahants and asked them to adjudge the matter, and they pronounced that it was not lawful according to the Vinaya for monks to handle money. After which, 700 distinguished Arahants were chosen and the Second Buddhist Council was held to protect the Doctrine.

Part 56

King Asoka offering meal to young novice Nigrodha who sat upon the throne

King Asoka regularly fed the Brahmin priests, in accordance with the custom of the royal household, before his conversion to Buddhism. But he was not pleased with their demeanour at meal-time, as they were neither clean nor calm. The King thought to himself, "Charity on such a lavish scale should be given in proper quarters". Later, one day he saw a serene-looking young novice, quietly walking along the street with restrained senses.

The King was so impressed with the deportment that the novice was invited to the palace at once and requested to occupy a suitable seat; and the novice went up the throne and sat on it. The King then served him with and excellent meal and asked him to give an exposition of the Doctrine which his Teacher used to preach. The young novice Nigrodha delivered an instructive discourse on the following stanza of the Dhammapada:-

"Heedfulness is the path to Deathlessness. Heedlessness is the path to death. The heedful do not die, the heedless are like unto the dead".

The word of the Buddha appealed to him and he became a Buddhist and staunch supporter of the religion