The establishment of Dhammayuttika Nikaya of Vajiranana Bhikkhu: The problem of Sanghabheda

บทคัดย่อ

The research finds that Vajiranana Bhikkhu did not declare his separation from religious ceremonies of the assembly of monks in Mahathat Temple in the same way that Devadatta Bhikkhu did from those chaired and ruled by the Lord Buddha during His lifetime. Such declaration was used as a criterion to judge whether there was an intention to cause Sanghabheda (schism). Moreover, during the initial period of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya sect, monks of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya and Maha Nikaya sects were able to take part in common religious ceremonies. More restricted rules that prevented them from doing so appeared after the founder of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya sect had ascended the throne to become King Rama IV. The King explained however that members of the two sects were in a spirit of unity. It can be concluded that the establishment of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya sect by Vajiranana Bhikkhu did not cause disagreement among Buddhist monks, or Sanghabheda, which is considered to be an Anantariyakarma in Buddhism.