The last time the Sangha got together to verify the teaching - Chaṭṭha Saṅgāyana in Burma

TripleGem

Hi there,

Not sure how many of you know about the Chaṭṭha Saṅgāyana that was held in Burma in the 1950's. It was not that long ago that the Sangha got together to verify the teachings of the Buddha. That was the sixth council.

Here's a great link to it:http://www.pariyatti.org/Resources/Treasures/ChatthaSangayana/tabid/78/Default.aspx

Especially check out the photo album at the bottom of the webpage. What an amazing cave they used!

Plus, a 160MB The Chaṭṭha Saṅgāyana Souvenir Album to download for free, too.


Enjoy!
TripleGem
http://www.pariyatti.org

Use the pariyatti to develop the patipatti. : )

Cinorjer

That was a fascinating bit of Theravadan Buddhist history. I escpecially like the picture gallery. Thanks for sharing that.

I got a chuckle out of one picture with the caption, "Some of the Agga Mahā Paṇḍita Mahatheras occupying seats of honour on the highest level of the balcony on the northern flank of the Assembly Hall." It shows some rather isolated monks in what we folks in the West would call the nose bleed section or cheap seats of an auditorium. The next time I'm climbing the steps with my ten dollar ticket, I'll remember they're the "seats of honour". These were the actual scholars, while the government people got to sit front and center, right next to the throne. Love it. People are people everwhere.

The only thing I'd question is saying "The Sangha" got together. Only the Teravadan branch of Buddhism was involved in this. A few Mahayana monks attended as guests, but we don't consider the sutras to be a closed canon, so aren't as concerned. Two years to read the whole thing and discuss slight differences? That's an impressive task.