4. Buddhist Councils, Sects, Texts & Bodhisattvas

1st Buddhist Council

Place Rajgriha (400 BC/ 483 BC) - Patronage Ajatshatru - Presidency Mahakashyapa.

2nd Buddhist Council

Place Vaishali (383 BC) - Patronage Kalashoka - Presidency Sabakami.

3rd Buddhist Council

Place Pataliputra (250 BC) - Patronage Ashoka - Presidency Moggaliputta Tissa.

4th Buddhist Council

Place Kashmir (72 AD) / Kundalvana - Patronage Kanishka - Presidency Vasumitra - Note that in 4th Buddhist Council, Buddhism was divided into two sects (Mahayana and Hinayana).

Sects of Buddhism (Hinayana)

They do not believe in idol worship - Text is Pali - They do not believe in rebirth of Buddha - Seen mostly in Southern India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, etc.

Sects of Buddhism (Mahayana)

They believe in idol worship - Text is Sanskrit - They believe in rebirth of Buddha - Seen mostly in Japan, China, South Korea.

Sects of Buddhism (Vajrayana)

Tantric Buddhism (In the East Asia) - Roots in Tibet - Seen mostly in Sikkim, West Bengal, Nepal, Tibet, East Asia.

Theravada Buddhism

A subtype of Hinayana Buddhism - Meaning is Theravada (Doctrine of the Elders), Thera (Senior Monk) + Vada (Doctrine) - Origin India - Theras are Senior Buddhist Monks - Theris are Senior Buddhist Nuns.

Tripitaka / Pali Canon Meaning

Pitaka meaning is Basket.

Sutta Pitaka

Collection of the Buddha's teachings, sermons, and dialogues - It was compiled by Ananda - It is divided into five parts known as Nikayas (Digha Nikaya, Majjhima Nikaya, Samyutta Nikaya, Anguttara Nikaya, Khuddaka Nikaya).

Dhammapada

A Buddhist text called the "Gita of Buddhism" for its importance and teachings - It is a part of the Khuddaka Nikaya.

Vinaya Pitaka

Monastic courts and rules.

Abhidhamma Pitaka

Interpretation of Sutta Pitaka and philosophical matters.

Literature In Pali language

Milindpanho (Dialogue between Milinda and Nagasena, a Buddhist monk) - Visuddhimagga (Written by Buddhaghosa) - Nettipakarana - Dipavamsa - Mahavamsa.

Literature In Sanskrit Language

Buddhacharita (Buddha's biography by Ashvaghosha) - Jataka Tales (It is about previous births of Buddha in both human and animal forms) - Avadanasataka - Divyavadana - Arya Manjushri mula kalpa.

Bodhisattvas concept

A being who seeks enlightenment (Bodhi) not just for themselves, but for the benefit of all sentient beings - The concept is centered to Mahayana Buddhism, where Bodhisattvas delay their own Nirvana to help others attain liberation.

Important Bodhisattvas

Padmapani (also known as Avalokiteshvara) - Vajrapani (protector and a guide) - Manjusri (represents wisdom and is considered the Buddha-to-be) - Amitabh (represents light).