An Analytical Study of the Cause of the First Buddhist Council

Abstract

This academic topic wants to find out where the cause of the First Buddhist Council came from. 2 issues were chosen to analyse, namely; the external factor and the internal factor. The result of the study shows that the external factor causing the First Buddhist Council came from the death of Niganta Nataputra or Mahavira. From then on his disciples quarreled with each other and the harmony was broken. Chunda Thera, one of the Buddha’s disciple, fears that this situation will happen to the Buddha's religion, therefore, he approaches and reports it to the Buddha. Because of the aforementioned events, the Buddha lays down the principle of rehearsal and recommends a collection of Dharma topics. Later, Sariputta Thera asked for permission to make a council, namely; to collect the Dhamma and organize it into categories. As for the internal factors causing of the First Buddhist Council comes from Subhadda who insults the Buddha in front of the Sangha. At that moment, the Buddha passed away not long ago. As a result, Maha Kassapa Thera persuades the Arahants to conduct a council at Rajagaha. Having analyzed in depth, it can be seen that the period between the death of Niganta Nataputra and insulting the Buddha of Subhadda occurred not far away. It is believed that the convergence of these two factors caused Maha Kassapa Thera and the Sangha rush to conduct the Buddhist council before the Buddhist disciples quarreled similar to the disciples of Niganta Nataputra.