2.1.9

Lesson 2.1.9 Paṭhamasāmaññasuttaṃ – About Being a Sāmañña and the Fruits Thereof

The Paṭhamasāmaññasutta describes the ‘fruits of a sāmañña’, the different stages on the way to final liberation. These stages are differentiated by levels of purification through the elimination of fetters (saṃyojanānā). The historical accounts of how the Dhamma was maintained are continued in the introduction. After the second council two directions developed, one that came to be known as ‘That of the Theras’ (Theravāda) and one described as the Mahāsaṅgitas. After the Buddha's Parinibbāna during the time of King Asoka in the third century, these two divided into eighteen different groups, as described in the Mahāvaṃsapāḷi. Due to this confusing situation, the Bhikkhus no longer performed the ceremonies of Uposatha or Pavāraṇā. Because of this, the great King Asoka decided to support the Bhikkhus by rectifying the Dhamma through the inauguratation of the Third Council where all monks were questioned by the king himself with the Arahant Thera Moggaliputta Tissa confirming the replies. Thus sorting the Bhikkhus into those with Right View (vibhajjavādī) and those with False View (micchādiṭṭhike) provided the base for the Third Council held in 250 B.C.