Q. The major contribution of the Third Buddhist Council convened by Ashoka was:
(a) It purged the Buddhist sangha of its dissenters
(b) At this conference kathavatthu was compiled by its President Moggaliputta Tissa
(c) It decided to dispatch Buddhist missions to various parts of India and foreign countries
(d) All the above
Ans: (d) All the above
Explanation: The correct answer is (d) All the above.
The Third Buddhist Council convened by Ashoka had multiple significant contributions:
(a) It purged the Buddhist sangha of its dissenters: The council aimed to purify the Buddhist monastic community by addressing doctrinal disputes and expelling dissenting or non-conforming monks. This was done to maintain unity and preserve the purity of the Buddhist teachings.
(b) At this conference, Kathavatthu was compiled by its President Moggaliputta Tissa: Kathavatthu, also known as the “Points of Controversy,” is a text that was compiled during the Third Buddhist Council. It deals with philosophical and doctrinal debates and provides detailed arguments and refutations on various topics.
(c) It decided to dispatch Buddhist missions to various parts of India and foreign countries: The council made decisions to send out Buddhist missions to propagate Buddhism in different regions. These missions aimed to spread the teachings of Buddhism and establish its presence in various parts of India and even beyond, contributing to the expansion of Buddhism.
Therefore, the correct answer is (d) All the above.
