RELS 223 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Vimalakirti Sutra, Lotus Sutra, Socalled
10 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
After the buddha attained enlightenment, he went to the deer park, outside. Benares and delivered his first teaching called turning of the wheel of. They delivered his first (male) disciples and constitute the original sangha community. To become a buddhist, one takes a vow of refuge" in the buddha, the dharma, and the sangha. Taking refuge represents a formal commitment expressing one"s aspiration to awaken and live in accordance with the dharma. It also means entry into the wider assembly or community of monks (male and female) and laity = the four fold sangha. He left a body of oral teachings that are preserved today in the pali canon, the authoritative teachings of the. At the first council meeting in rajagrha (during the rainy season retreat after the buddha"s death or pari-nirvana), 500 monks met under the leadership of the senior monk maha-kasyapa to preserve buddha-dharma.
