VENERABLE KUMARA KASSAPA EXPLAINING TO THE GOVERNOR OF PAYASI THE EXISTENCE OF A FUTURE WORLD
The Governor of Payasi was of the wrong belief that there was no future world, that there were no such beings as higher and lower gods produced without any apparent cause, that there was no such thing as Hell and that there were no effects of good or bad deeds done. According to his view "if a man dies he is not reborn". Venerable Kumara Kassapa was an Arahant who could preach well. The Governor of Payasi with a great crowd of men came to the Arahant and stated to him his religious views.
Venerable Kumara Kassapa pointed out to him the sun and the moon and asked him, "Are the sun and the moon you see over there in this or another world? Are the beings living there human or celestial?" The Governor could not answer that the sun and the moon were in this world ; nor could he say that their inhabitants were human beings. He had, therefore, to admit that "those planets are in another world and their inhabitants are celestial beings". He was converted from his wrong faith by being asked questions of this nature.
PARINIBBANA (DEATH) OF THE BUDDHA IN THE SALA GROVE OF KUSINARA STATE
From His 35th year, the date of His Enlightenment, the Buddha's successful ministry lasted 45 years. When He attained His 80th year the Buddha had an attack of dysentery and lay down on a couch with its head to the north between twin sal-trees in the Sala Grove of Kusinara State. Men, higher and lower gods and monks were gathered, in large numbers, near the Blessed One in respectful adoration.
Though he was very weak and weary, the Buddha was still addressing those present with words of exhortation. After addressing them the whole night the Blessed One spoke His last words, when it was nearing dawn, as follows:—"Behold, O disciples, I exhort you. Subject to decay are all conditioned things. Strive on with heedfulness". The Buddha then attained the Ecstasies and arrived at the cessation of perception and sensation, and finally the Blessed One passed away; and there was an earthquake to mark His death.
DONA, THE PROFESSOR, DISTRIBUTING THE SACRED RELICS OF THE BUDDHA TO THE RULERS 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. Ajattasattu and other rulers heard of the Buddha's death and came out with their own armies to fight for the possession of the sacred relies 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 relies away and placed them inside pagodas and shrines and revered them as objects of worship.
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," said he, "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.
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 devotees 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.
