40b: The Last Days 2, In Vajji – 1562
miscellaneous discourses as well as commentaries, being written by
learned teachers, come to be known also as The words of the teachers
(
ācariya-vāda
).
These learned observations or treatises, which are referred to by three
different names, which are The words of the teachers (
ācariya-vāda
),
commentaries (
aṭṭhakathā
), miscellaneous teachings (
pakiṇṇaka-
desanā
), were carried by Ven. Mahinda to Śrī Laṅkā. The Śrī Laṅkā
elders translated them into Sinhalese to ensure for the Sinhalese
monastics the tradition against doctrines that might be introduced by
other sects later. Ven. Mahā Buddhaghosa studied the Sinhalese
commentaries (
aṭṭhakathā
), the root miscellanany (
mūḷa-pakiṇṇaka
),
cleared up repetitive statements and condensed them wherever suitable,
classified them under suitable headings which were appropriate to the
Baskets, elucidating them wherever necessary, and thereby produced a
new commentary in Māgadhī, adding the traditional views held by the
elders (
ācariya-vāda
) which came to be called “own views’ (
attano
mati
), wherever necessary. Thus, the words of the teachers (
ācariya-
vāda
), the third of the four guides, for practical purposes as used today,
refers to this new commentary.
4. Own views (
attano mati
) means considered opinions held by elders after
following the principles contained in the Doctrine, what is in line with
Doctrine and the words of the teachers. Own views (
attano mati
) is also
known as the traditional views held by the elders (
ācariya-vāda
). Thus
these four guides which are the Doctrine, what is in line with Doctrine,
the words of the teachers and own views should be noted.
The three great Buddhist councils.
1. The first great council of 500 Arahats headed by Ven. Mahā Kassapa.
2. The second great council of 7,000 Arahats headed by Ven. Mahā Yasa.
3. The third great council of 1,000 Arahats headed by Ven. Mahā
Moggaliputta.
These are the three great official Buddhist Councils.
[1048]
First, remember the
four great authorities as taught in the Discourses, the four great authorities as
taught in the Vinaya, the four types of questions and answers, the four guides
and the three great official councils.