His teaching was transmitted by so-called
Hinayana Buddhists, or shravakas, because they were the disciples, or
followers, who tried to preserve his teaching by memory and discussion or
meetings. No one is sure when this kind of meeting was held, but it is said
that seventy-five years (? see below) after his death they had a meeting where they chose
various good disciples to compile his teaching.
When they discussed the precepts, Upali was the head of the group, and he
recited what Buddha had said. When the Sutras were discussed, Ananda, who was
Buddha's jisha, discussed what Buddha said. In that way, they set up some
teaching: “This is what Buddha told us, and these are the precepts Buddha set
up.” Naturally, they became rigidly attached to the teaching, and, of course,
those who studied this kind of teaching had a special position among Buddhists.
Buddha's disciples were classified in four groups: laymen, laywomen, nuns, and
priests. And the distinction between laymen and laywomen and priests and nuns
became more and more strict. Buddhism at that time already had become a
religion of priests, not ordinary people or laymen. ----------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 68-10-21 as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. - DC DC Comment: 75 years after his death? I don't understand. I'm not student of that history but I do know the First Council was three months after Buddh's death. The time has to b ewrong because Anaada wouldn't have been alive most likely 75 years after Buddhas' death.
