| { REFERENCES } |
| * Since the Buddha attained Enlightenment at 35 years of age. (Based on the belief that the Buddha was born in 624B.C. But scholars differ among themselves. It may be that the D.O.B of the Buddha was 564 B.C. or about 60 years later than the Sinhalese Chronicle Mahavamsa says.) |
| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | YEARS FROM TODAY |
| 589 B.C. | Attainment of Buddhahood | 2588 years ago |
| The Future Buddha, the ascetic Siddhattha,sat cross-legged at the foot of the Bodhi tree with the firm resolution that he would not get up from his seat until he attained the supreme wisdom of a Buddha, and went into deep meditation. On Wednesday the full moon day of Vesakha (April-May) 589 B.C., He attained the Supreme Enlightenment of a Buddha. | ||
| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | YEARS FROM TODAY |
| 589 B.C. | The First Discourse | 2588 years ago |
| The Buddha went to the Deer Park at Isipatana near Benares, in Ancient India/ Nepal, about 18 yojanas (1 yojana =about 8 miles) away and preached his First Sermon, 'Dhammacakkappavattana'to this "Band of Five Disciples" before sunset on the full moon day of 'Waso' (June-July). Kondanna was established in the first noble stage of the Ariyan Path; i.e., the Sotapatti stage of Ariyahood. | ||
| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 589 BC | The Second Discourse | - |
| The Second Discourse, Anattalakkhana Sutta, followed the first one. At the end of this Discourse about Anatta (soullessness), all five Ascetics attained Arahantship. | ||
| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 589 BC | First Missionaries | - |
| After the Buddha had kept his retreat at the Deer Park at Isipatana during the first rainy season, there were fully sixty Arahants besides the Blessed One. "O Bhikkhus, wander for the gain of the many, for the good of the many, for the gain and welfare of gods and men. Preach, O Bhikkhus, the doctrine which is glorious in the beginning, glorious in the middle, glorious at the end, in spirit and in letter. Proclaim the Holy Life altogether perfect and pure. There are beings with a little dust in their eyes, who, not hearing the Doctrine will fall away. There will be those who will understand the Doctrine". With this exhortation the Buddha despatched His first missionary monks abroad. | ||
| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 543 B.C. | PARINIBBANA | Year 0 B.E |
From 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. After addressing the disciples 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". |
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| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 543 B.C. | The Relics of the Buddha | |
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. Then as agreed by the rulers of the eight states, Dona the Brahmin Teacher 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. |
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| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 543 BC | The First Buddhist Council | |
Subhadda, who became a bhikkhu in his old age, disparaged the Buddha's Teachings on the seventh day after the Buddha had passed away. " Venerable Mahakassapa was very alarmed and concerned about the future of the Buddha's Teachings. He suggested to hold a Council of leading Arahants to collect, classify and rehearse the teachings of the Buddha in order to protect and fortify the Buddha's Teachings. King Ajatasattu was informed of the intention of the Samgha, and with his help, the First Buddhist council was held in Sattapanni Cave Pavilion at Mount Vebhara at Rajagaha with 500 Arahants, including Venerable Upali and Venerable Ananda. It started on the fifth waning day of 'Wagaung' (August) and lasted seven months. |
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| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 443 B.C | The Second Buddhist Council | 100 B.E |
The Second Council was held at Valukarama monastery, near the city of Vesali in 100 B.E. (443 B.C). It was held because the bhikkhus of the Vajji clan from Vesali preached and practised ten unlawful modifications in the Rules of the Order. The seven hundred arahats led by Venerable Yasa. Venerable Sabbakami and Venerable Revata took part in that council while King Kalasoka of Vesali and the people gave necessary supports to that council, it lasted eight months. |
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| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 308 BC | The Third Buddhist Council | 235 B.E |
The Third Council was held at Asokarama Monastery in the city of Pataliputta in 235 B.E (308 B.C). Sixty thousand ascetics infiltrated into the Sangha Order, polluted the Sasana by their corrupt lives and heretical views. That is the main reason why the Third Council was held by one thousand arahats in order to protect the Sasana. Venerable Mahamoggaliputta Tissa presided over the council. King Siridhammasoka of Pataliputta gave the necessary support to the council. It lasted nine months. After the Third Council, nine missions were sent to nine different places to propagate the Sasana. The mission of five arahats to Suvannabhumi, Myanmar, was led by Venerable Sona Thera and Venerable Uttara Thera. |
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| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 94 B.C | The Fourth Buddhist Council | 450 B.E |
The Fourth Council was held at Cave Aloka in Malaya district, Sri Lanka, in 450 B.E (94 B.C). The people of Sri Lanka were hard hit by rebels, hunger and starvation for twelve years. So the Bhikkhus had to make strong efforts to maintain the Buddha's Teachings. The elder bhikkhus foresaw that if there would appear such danger in future, the bhikkhus would not be able to memorize the discourses and the disciplines by heart because of the declination of their power of mindfulness, concentration and wisdom. Therefore, they held the Fourth Great Council. It was during the reign of King Vattagamani that five hundred bhikkhus, led by Venerable Mahadhammarakkhita, inscribed the entire words of the Buddha's Teachings on palm leaves. The heads and elders as well as the people of Malaya district gave all-round sup port to the council. The Fourth Great Council continued for one year. |
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| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 2 B.C | Buddhism in Afghanistan | |
| There were evidence of
flourishing Buddhism in year 2 B.C. in Yueh-chi, the ancient Afghanistan, as a
Chinese diplomat was recorded to have sent certain Buddhist Texts to China from
that area. The inscriptions on urns and earthern jars reveled the donors of
non-indian races, viz: Greeks, Persians, etc. The Buddhist monuments are strewn
along the tract of the great highway along the Kabul Valley. The Colossal
Buddha statues, each Buddha being over 200 feet in height, were discovered in
the Bamiyan Valley . (Ref: , JA Will Perera, 'Buddhism and Buddhist Monuments in Afghabistan', The Light of Buddha Magazine, Vol. III, Burma Buddhist Society, 1958) |
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| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 4th Century B.C. | BUDDHISM IN SRI LANKA | |
| Tradition has it that the
Buddha visited the island three times to bless it . Their Chronicles also
recorded the first immigrants from India reaching the island on the day of His
parinibbana. But it was not till two centuries later that Buddhism was
firmly established when the Arahant Mahinda, son
of emperor Asoka, came over from India, and converted King Devanampiyatissa.
Emperor Asoka despatched his daughter, Sanghamitta, who had become a nun,
together with a branch of the Sacred Bodhi-Tree. Dagobhas were built all over
the country to enshrine the Relics of the Buddha from the main land India. It
is believed that the first images of the Buddha were made in Sri Lanka. Maha Vihara of Great Minister at Anuradhapura and Abhayagiri Vihara were famous places. The Indian Monk, Buddhaghosa spent many years at the former and wrote many Pali Commentaries on books of Tipitaka. One of his works is the Visuddhi Magga (Path of Purity). He went across to Burma, according to Burmese tradition, to help in firm establishment of Buddhism in that land. The Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha arrived in A.D. 312. From the 5th to 9th centuries, missionery monks and nuns travelled from Sri Lanka to many countries in South East Asia. In the 10th century, the order of Monks and monasteries were almost wiped out by the invading Cholas from Southern India. But King Vijayabahu I drove them away in A.D. 1055 and invited 20 elders from Burma ( then called Ramanna) to restore the Sasana in Ceylon. |
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| (Ref: , Dr. G.P. Malalasekara, 'Buddhism in Ceylon', The Light of Buddha Magazine, Vol. III, No.8, Burma Buddhist Society, 1958) | ||
| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 189 A.D. | BUDDHISM IN VIETNAM | - |
| I t is probably Chinese
Master Meou-Po who was responsible for introducing Buddhism into Vietnam from
China in 189 A.D. and the country was ruled by China at that time. Zen Buddhism
established in Vietnam in 580 A.D. |
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| (Ref: , Mai-Tho-Truyen, 'Buddhism in Vietnam', The Light of Buddha Magazine, Vol. III, No. 2, Burma Buddhist Society, 1958) | ||
| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 3rd Century A.D. | BUDDHISM IN BURMA | |
| According to the Mahavamsa, a Pali Chronicle of the fifth century
Ceylon, the Emperor Asoka sent two Buddhist Monks, Sona and Uttara, to
Suvannabhumi. An inscription of the Ikshavaku Dynasty of thr Andhra region, of
about the 3rd century A.D. refers to the conversion of the Kiratas to Buddhism.
(Kiratas were thought to be the Tibeto-Burma peoples of Burma). Early Chinese texts of about the same date speak of a "Kingdom of Liu-Yang", where all people worshipped the Buddha there were several thousand samanas. This kingdom has often been identified with a region somewhere in Central Burma. A series of epigraphic records in Pali, Sanskrit, Pyu and Mon datable in the 6th and 7th centuries, has been recovered from Central and Lower Burma (Prome and Rangoon). From the 11th to 13th centuries, the kings and queens of Pagan dynasty built countless numbers of stupas and temples. (Ref: , U Tha Myat, 'Buddhism in South East Asia', The Light of Buddha Magazine, Vol. III, No.8, No. 1Burma Buddhist Society, 1958) |
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| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| A.D. 5th Century | BUDDHISM IN CAMBODIA | |
| Chinese evidence suggested
that Buddhism was one of the religions of Cambodia. In the 7th century it was
invaded by the Chinese Army which carried off 1,350 volumes of Buddhist Texts.
But in the 9th and 10th century, Buddhism had become the dominant relgion in
Cambodia. (Ref: , U Tha Myat, 'Buddhism in South East Asia', The Light of Buddha Magazine, Vol. III, No.8, No. 1Burma Buddhist Society, 1958) |
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| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| A.D. 6th and 7th Centuries | BUDDHISM IN THAILAND | 1300 B.E |
Buddhism was first introduced into Thailand as Theravada Buddhism by missionaries sent out by King Asoka of India, namely Sona Thera and Uttara Thera. For the second time, Buddhism came as Mahayana Buddhism in A.D. 700 (1300 B.E). For the third time it was King Anurat (Anawratha) of Pagan, Burma who re-introduced Theravada Buddhism into Thailand again in A.D. 1000 (B.E. 1600). Since then there were frequent movements of Monks between Sri lanka and Thailand, strengthening Theravada Buddhism. |
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| (Ref: Dr. Luang Suriyabongs, 'Buddhism in Thailand', The Light of Buddha Magazine, Vol. III, No.1, Burma Buddhist Society, 1958) | ||
| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| A.D. 6th and 7th Centuries | BUDDHISM IN INDONESIA | |
| The Chinese record
indicated that the island of Bali in the 6th century was the seat of a rich and
civilizes kingdom ruled by Buddhist Kings. By about the 7th century, a great
wave of Buddhism seemed to have swept all over the Indonesian islands. In the
8th century, the Buddhist Sri-Vijaya dynasty was responsible for elegant
Buddhist shrines as those of Dieng Plateau (Java) and the dignified structure
as the stupa of Borobudur (Java). (Ref: , U Tha Myat, 'Buddhism in South East Asia', The Light of Buddha Magazine, Vol. III, No.8, No. 1Burma Buddhist Society, 1958) |
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| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| AD 552 | Buddhism in Japan | |
| Buddhism was introduced to
Japna when King Seimei of Kudara, southern part of the Korean Peninsula,
prsented the Emperor Kimmei of Japan with a golden image of Sakyamuni, some
mahayana sutras and some Abhidhamma sutras. The famous Seven Great Nara Temples
were places for the study of Buddhism and were completed by the end of Nara
Period (710-784).Temples were also built in the Heian Period (794-1192), and
Kamakura Period (1192-1333). The famous Sects were founded by Honen ( Jodo-shu
Sect, 1133-1212), Shinran (Shin-shu Sect, 1173-1262) and Nichiren (Nichiren
Sect, 1222-1282). Japanese Buddhist Sects are based on Mahayana Texts
translated into Chinese from the Sanskrit originals. (Ref: Makoto Nagai, D. Litt.,'Buddhism in Japan', The Light of Buddha, Vol. III, Burma Buddhist Society, Mandalay, 1958.) |
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| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 11th Century AD | Theravada Buddhism in Pagan, Burma | |
| Theravada Buddhism was implanted at Pagan for the first time as early as the 11th century by Burmese King Anawratha (1044-1077). Shin Arahan's advice led to acquiring thirty sets of Pali scriptures from the Mon King Manuhal by force. It was to Shin Arahan more than to anybody else that Burma owes the establishment of Theravada Buddhism. Towards the end of the 13th century, Buddhism declined due to the invading Tartars. In 15th century, King Dhammazedi restored Buddhism as a new chapter in the history of Buddhism in Burma. Since then successive Kings contributed immensely to the practice of Buddhism, leading to the staging of the Fifth and Six Buddhist Councils in Mandalay and Rangoon, respectively. The social life of Burma, now re-named Myanmar continues to benefit under the influence of Buddhism. | ||
| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 1871 AD | The Fifth Buddhist Council | 2415 B.E |
The Fifth Council was convened at Mandalay in Myanmar on the first waning day of Tazaungmone, 1232 Myanmar Era, 2415 B.E (November, 1871). The scriptures inscribed on palm-leaves could not last for a long time. Besides there might be many variations in rewriting the scriptures from copy to copy. Therefore, the scriptures were inscribed on marble slabs in order to dispel these disadvantages. Two thousand and four hundred bhikkhus led by Venerable Jagarabhivamsa Thera (Tipitakadhara Mahadhammarajadhirajaguru) of Dakkhinarama Monastery, Mandalay, convened, to recite and approve the scriptures. King Mindon initiated and supported the Fifth Great Council to the end. The scriptures were first inscribed on seven hundred and twenty-nine marble slabs ) in the precinct of Lokamarajina Pagoda at the foot of Mandalay Hill. It took seven years, six months and fourteen days to finish this work. Then the bhikkhus recited to approve the inscriptions for five months and three days. After the Fifth Great Council. the Pali Texts were translated into Myanmar language, and the Doctrinal Order was promulgated to the whole country for purpose of purification and propagation of the Buddha's Teachings. |
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| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 1907 | BUDDHISM IN THE UK | |
| The Buddhist Philosophy had been studied in late Victorian Britain. On his return to England from Ceylon in 1864, Robert Childers compiled his famous Pali-English dicitionary. Rhys Davids contributed a great deal in the founding of the Pali Text Society in 1881. In 1907 the Buddhist Society of Great Britain and Ireland was founded . It was succeeded in 1924 by the Buddhist Society. The Founder President was the late Judge Christmas Humphreys. In 1926 the London Buddhist Vihara was established in Chiswick, West London. Venerable Sayadaw U Thittilaof Burma arrived in England in 1938 and preached Dhamma for 14 years. | ||
| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 1954-56 | The Six Buddhist Council | 2498 B.E. |
On the full-moon day of Kason, 1316, M.E. 2498 B.E (May, 1954), the Sixth Great Council was held in the Mahapasana Great Cave, Kaba-Aye, Yangon, Myanmar. The country of Myanmar had been one of the British Colonies for one hundred years and during this period the Buddha Sasana had deteriorated to some extent. So the Sixth Great Council was held aiming at the purification and promotion of the Buddha Sasana. Two thousand and five hundred bhikkhus from the five countries of Theravada Buddhism participated in that council. Nyaung Yan Sayadaw, Venerable Revata (Abhidhajamaharatthaguru), presided over it; the Mahasi Sayadaw, Venerable Sobhana (Aggamahapandita), and the Mingun Sayadaw, Venerable Vicittasarabhivamsa (Tipitakadhara Dhamma-bhandhagarika) took the leading roles in that council. The doctrinal questions asked by the people of five Theravada Buddhist countries: Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia were solved magnanimously. Twenty- five other countries also gave much help to that council. At that Council, not only the canonical Pali Texts of the Buddha but also the commentaries and sub-commentaries were reexamined. |
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| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 1954 | Mass conversion to Buddhism in India | - |
| Mass conversion to Buddhism in India took place under the leadership of Dr. Ambedkar in December 1954. | ||
| CALENDER YEAR | IMPORTANT EVENT | BUDDHIST ERA |
| 1969 | The Return of Vipassana to India | - |
| The coming of Sayagyi Goenka to India in 1969 marked the return of Vipassana to the country after nearly 2,000 years, with the blessing of his teacher, Sayagyi U Ba Khin, Internationally well-known Vipassana Guru, who had formally bestowed on Shri. Satya Narayan Goenka the responsibility of Vipassana-acariya (Vipassana Teacher). Sayagyi U Ba Khin told him before he departed Rangoon that India was very ripe to receive this gem of the practice of Vipassana. In 1976 'Dhamma Giri ( Hill of Dhamma) ' opened to the public for its regular Vipassana Meditation courses. Ten years later, Sayagyi Goenka (also known as Goenkaji) made his first trip outside India to spread Vipassana around the world. Twenty years later, Dhamma Giri has grown and blossomed. Now it can accomodate and cater for more than 600 resident students and yogis on a daily basis. (More on Sayagyi Goenka's Dhamma Mission) | ||
| More to be added | ||
| REFERENCES | ||
| Title | Year | Author/ Publisher |
| The Teachings Of The Buddha (Basic Level) | 1997 | Ministry of thr Religious Affairs, Myanmar |
| The Buddha and His Teachings | 1964 | Venerable Narada |
| The Light of Buddha Magazines, Vol. III | 1958 | Burma Buddhist Society, Mandalay |
| Vipassana Pagoda, Souvenir 26th October. 97 | 1997 | Global Vipassana Foundation, Mumbai, India |
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