Buddhism-Sangha or Monastic Order and Spread of Buddhism

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Buddha founded a monastic order which is called Sangha. In the beginning, this Sangha was open to men only, but latter on the Master hesitatingly admitted even women into the Order.The monks were known as Bhikshus and the nuns as Bhikshunis.

A Bhikshu, before he joined the Order, had first to renounce family life and worldly pleasures and was to devote his whole life to the service of humanity. Then he was led to the assembly of ten monks and was to make a request that he wanted to become a monk. His hair and beard were then cut off and he was asked to wear the yellow robes of a monk.

He then uttered the following thrice- “Buddham, Sharnam Gachchami, Dharma Sharnam Gachchami, Sangham Sharnam Gachchami” that is “I take refuge in Buddha, I take refuge in Dharma and I take refuge in Sangha or Order”. Then the rules and procedure of the Sangha were read out to him. He was particularly informed of the “Ten Commandments” of the Master:

1. He was not to covet others’ property
2. He was not to take wine
3. He was to refrain from killing animals
4. He was not to associate with women
5. He was not to tell lies
6. He was not to eat at forbidden times
7. He was not to sing nor dance nor take part in dramas
8. He was not to use flowers, scents and ornaments
9. He was not to sleep on soft beds
10. He was not to have gold or silver.

There were special conditions for nuns or Bhikshunis:

a. A nun was not to spend her retreat where there were monks
b. Twice a month she was to receive admonition
c. Punishment to nuns was given by a Sangha consisting of monks and nuns.

All this meant life of poverty and chastity for a monk. He was to have one meal a day; and if he missed it, he could not take it any other time. He was not to touch gold and sliver.

The members of the Holy Order-the monks and the nuns were to spend most of the year among the people converting them to their point of view. They were to lives in monasteries and nunneries and were not to live in families.

During three months of the rainy season they had to return to their original monastery where a stock of the year’s work was taken. Each monastery then discussed the programme for the next year.

The Buddhist Sangha has had no central organization. Each Sangha carried on its work as an independent entity. But all Sanghas were accepted as merely parts of one Universal Sangha, and, every member of every Sangha was regarded as a member of all Sanghas. This was the bond of unity amongst them. Whenever any occasion arose, General Councils of the monks were held.

Every Sangha functioned on democratic principles. the general assembly of all the monks of a Sangha constituted the supreme authority concerning that Sangha, its members and all their activities. No meeting was legal, unless all the members were present, or if absent, formally declared their consent. All matters were decided by majority votes in the assembly. The head of the Sangha or Sangha-Parinayanka and all the officials concerning routine work of the Sangha were also elected by the assembly.

The nuns (Bhikkhunis) had separate Sanghas. They were established near the monk-Sanghas and were subordinate to them, as the Buddhist canon law assigned an inferior position to the nuns. Certain separate rules were also framed for nuns and their Sanghas.

The organization of the Sanghas had two other special features.

One was the regular assemblies of all monks residing within fixed boundaries of a locality held on the 8th, 14th and 15th days of each fortnight for religious discourses. Every monk had to accept his guilt or breach of any rule by him, if any, before all present and punishment to him was decided according to rules and regulations of the assembles.

During the three months of rains, the monks were enquired to take up a fixed abode. The rest of the year the monks used to wander all over the country.

Monks and the nuns had to practice certain spiritual exercises besides observing the code of conduct and rule of morality. The most important of he monk’s or the nun’s spiritual exercises were the four Sublime Moods (Brahma Vihara) in which sitting quietly cross-legged, he or she endeavored to fill his or her mind with the four cardinal virues of Buddhism, viz. love, compassion, joy and equanimity.

A fifth mood was that of impurity, in which he or she considered all the evilness and horror of the world and of the life of flesh. Another exercise for mental discipline was necessary for a monk, it was “Right collection.” It mean that he had to train himself to be continually aware of what he was doing, what faults or mistakes he had committed and be prepared to accept them and take remedial measures.

Hence the Sanghas were primarily the training centres for monks and nuns. These organization of the Sanghas helped in the propagation of Buddhism. The idea of organizing the Sanghas for the propagation of a particular religious faith was not new but the credit to give it a systemic character goes to Mahatma Buddha.

The first Buddhist council was held at Rajagriha soon after Buddha’s death under the auspices of King Ajatasatru and an attempt was made to compile the teachings of Buddha. The attempt did not succeed because the scriptures of Buddhism grew by a long process of development over several centuries.

The monks of Vaisali and Pataliputra had accepted certain rules which were declared against the teachings of Buddha by the monks of Kausambi and Avanti. The second council held at Vaisali failed to being about a compromise between the two opposite opinions which led to the first division of Buddhism.

Henceforth, those who opposed the rules were called the Sthaviravadins; and those who were in favour of the rules and their further relaxation were called the Mahasanghikas.

The third council was held at Pataliputra during the reign of Emperor Asoka. By that time Buddhists had developed serious differences among themselves. The lack of a supreme head of Buddhism who could settle the rival claims about the teachings of Mahatma Buddha proved to be the main cause of these divisions.

By Asoka’s time many Buddhist sects had raised Buddha almost to divinity and various places connected with his life had become places of pilgrimage. At several places Buddhsit viharas and stupas were also built-up. Emperor Ashoka himself helped in building many of them.

Asoka took keen interest in the propagation of Buddhism not only in Indian but even outside its geographical limits. By the time of his death Buddhism had become the most popular religion in India.

Asoka’s zeal created a reaction which reached its climax during the reign of Pushyamitra Sunga, and the progress of Buddhism did not stop. Rather, the invasions of foreigners like the Sakas and the Kushans gave India an opportunity to come in contact with the north-western countries of Asia and helped in its further progress beyond the frontiers of India. The Kushan rulers, particularly Kanishka, extended their patronage to Buddhism.

It was during the reign of Kanishka that the fourth general council of Buddhism was held in Kashmir which was presided over by Vasumitra. The great division took place after this council. Buddhism was divided into two major and important sects. One was called the Hinayana or the Lessser Vehicle, and the other was called the Mahayana or the Great Vehicle.

The new sect, Mahayanism proved to be more popular. It became popular not only in India but it penetrated and became popular in Afghanistan, Central Asia and as far as China and Japan. Hinayana sect of Buddhism remained popular in Ceylon and penetrated into Burma, Siam and certain other countries of South-East Asia. Thus at one time Buddhism became the foremost religion of Asia.

The Religious Texts

Buddhist religious texts were written in Pali and collectively known as Tripitaka (three baskets). The first part is the Vinayapitaka which lays down rules for the guidance of the monks and the general management of the Buddhist Church. The second part is the Suttapitakas, a collection of the religious discourses of Buddha; and, the third is the Abhidhammapitaka which contains an exposition of the philosophical principles underlying Buddhism.

Later, the Mahayana sect of Buddhism created their own texts. Besides, authoritative commentaries on the sacred texts and the Jatakas or stories relating to different births of Buddha also added much to the religious literature of Buddhism.

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Tags: bhikshu, buddha, buddhism, fix abode, kausambi and avanti, monastic order, monk, nuns, pataliputra, sangha order, spiritual exercises

The Buddhism in India

Buddhism is the religion that made first bold attempt to solve our social problems. It boldly challenged caste system and inequality in the system. It raised a voice against bad customs and practices which Hinduism had adopted.

Buddhism challenged untouchability and spread the teaching that we should not accept religious dogma blindly. It taught us reason, love, pity, benevolence and the spirit of forgiveness.

Buddhism also preached non-violence. it also challenged authority of our religious books. It created a sense of respect for the women.

Buddhism had deep impact on Hinduism. Buddhism exposed the weaknesses of Hinduism.

Costly rituals, sacrifices were challenged. Buddhism believed that in religion blind faith should have no place.

In a sense Buddhism prompted revolt against Vedic religion.

It propagated the philosophy of equality of man. This was in stark opposition to caste system of Hinduism. Buddha’s great eight-fold path very significantly developed ethics and simplicity in society.

Buddhism appealed to the people and got attracted to it. It gave religions philosophical simplicity. It helped in the contribution of literature.

For the spread of Buddhism, monasteries, rock pillars, rock caves and images of Lord Buddha were made. These became beautiful art pieces. In this way Buddhism very much helped in the promotion of art. Buddhist missionaries also went abroad for the spread of their religion and thus India’s prestige in foreign countries was enhanced enormously.

Popularity: 25% [?]

Tags: bharat, buddh, buddhism, caste system, hinduism, india, monk, sanskrit, untouchability, vedic religion