The First Buddhists
When the historical Buddha died, leadership of the sangha fell to Mahakashyapa. Mahakashyapa convened the first Buddhist Council of the Buddha's followers to collect and preserve his teachings. Monks then went forth to spread Buddhism throughout India.
The First Buddhist Monks
The Buddha and his first disciples had no fixed place to call home. They slept under trees and begged for all of their food. Their only clothes were robes they patched together from cloth taken from rubbish heaps.
The Buddha and his first disciples had no fixed place to call home. They slept under trees and begged for all of their food. Their only clothes were robes they patched together from cloth taken from rubbish heaps.
The Buddha's Robe
Although the robes of Buddhist monks and nuns come in many colors and styles, they are all part of a tradition going back to the time of the historical Buddha, 26 centuries ago.
Although the robes of Buddhist monks and nuns come in many colors and styles, they are all part of a tradition going back to the time of the historical Buddha, 26 centuries ago.
The Buddha's Robe: A Photo Gallery
The distinctive style of Buddhist monks' robes originated 25 centuries ago among the historical Buddha's disciples. This image gallery illustrates the original robe today in southeast Asia and shows how it evolved as Buddhism spread north through China, Tibet, Japan and Korea.
The distinctive style of Buddhist monks' robes originated 25 centuries ago among the historical Buddha's disciples. This image gallery illustrates the original robe today in southeast Asia and shows how it evolved as Buddhism spread north through China, Tibet, Japan and Korea.
Development and Spread of the Sangha
How Buddhism developed after the death of the historical Buddha; the first monks.
How Buddhism developed after the death of the historical Buddha; the first monks.
Early History of Buddhism
A history of the first monastic order of Buddhism.
A history of the first monastic order of Buddhism.
The First Buddhist Council
The First Buddhist Council met shortly after the historical Buddha's death. The disciples recited their teacher's words from memory and began the tradition of oral recitation that preserved the teachings until they were written down centuries later.
The First Buddhist Council met shortly after the historical Buddha's death. The disciples recited their teacher's words from memory and began the tradition of oral recitation that preserved the teachings until they were written down centuries later.