What is the origin of the Buddhist texts of the Theravada tradition as they have come to us today? These texts date from the Buddhas time, about 2500 years ago. Shortly after the Buddhas passing away a Council was held in Rajagaha, were the teachings were examined and scrutinized as to their orthodoxy. Under the leadership of the Buddhas eminent disciple Maha Kassapa five hundred monks who had reached the state of perfection recited all the texts of the Vinaya, the Book of Discipline for the monks, the Suttanta, Discourses, and the Abhidhamma, the higher teaching on ultimate realities. A second Council was held one century later at Vesali. This was necessary because of wrong interpretations of the monkss rules by heretical monks. A third Council was held in 268 B.C. in Pataliputta. On this occasion the canon of the Theravada tradition in the Pali language as it exists today was finally redacted. During all this time the teachings were handed down by oral tradition. About 89 B.C. they were committed to writing in Sri Lanka.
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