Introduction

1. "pariharati"
2. The full precepts and the rules concerning expulsion from the Saṃgha
3. Schisms
4. Councils
Conclusion

This is the first of the author's four essays on "Sakyamuni's Saṃgha." The second appears as Document 8 ("The 'sammukhībhūta-saṃgha' and the 'cātuddisa-saṃgha'"), the third as Article 13 ("The Saṃgha Led by the Buddha and Saṃghas Led by his Disciples") and the fourth as Article 14 ("The Saṃgha of Sakyamuni").

The terms "the Saṃgha of primitive Buddhism" and "the Saṃgha of early Buddhism" exist. Both are used rather vaguely to refer to the conceptual tie, like a sense of unity, joining Buddhists who had taken refuge in the Three Treasures. However, the "Saṃgha of Sakyamuni" has the image of an organized group centred on Sakyamuni, comprising on one hand all the bhikkhus and bhikkunis scattered throughout India, and on the other, the individual local groups of Buddhist followers established by those bhikkhus and bhikkhunis.

However, as far as we can tell from the surface information in the early Buddhist scriptural sources, there is no evidence that such organizations existed. Nevertheless this essay takes into account circumstantial evidence to posit that the existence of the "Saṃgha of Sakyamuni" has to be recognized. Such evidence includes: (1) those who accepted the full precepts in one "Saṃgha of the Buddha's disciples" had the rights and responsibilities of bhikkhus or bhikkhunis wherever they went throughout India; (2) one who had committed a pārājika offence and been expelled from one "Saṃgha of the Buddha's disciples" is expelled from all Saṃghas; (3) Devadatta's attempt to cause schism was made because he wanted to take over the "Saṃgha of Sakyamuni"; (4) Ānanda was worried about the state of the Saṃgha after the Buddha's death; (5) the First Council might have had authority as the "Saṃgha of Sakyamuni."

This essay, which first appeared in Fukuda Ryosei sensei koki kinen mikkyo Rishu no uchu [The Universe of the Tantric Rishukyō, Commemorating the Seventieth Birthday of Professor FUKUDA Ryōsei], Chisan gakuhō 56 (March 2007), edited by the Shingongaku Chisan Kenkyūjo of Taisho University and Chisan Kangakkai has been reprinted here with the permission of the publisher. I wish to express my gratitude here. The form has been altered for this publication, and so please refer to the original article for references and quotations.