Tomorrow we convene the inaugural Australian Sangha Association
National Conference in Sydney. I think there'll be in excess of 50
monks and nuns from all traditions attending. As far as i know, this
will be the first organization of its kind. Not only do we include
all traditions, but we even give the nuns an equal hearing: half the
speakers are nuns.
As part of my contribution i have put together a little essay
outlining the historical relationships between the monastic
lineages, following our discussion on this group some time ago. This
will be available for those interested at the conference.
To clarify one point: in an earlier message i raised the question
whether there was a connection between Sambhuta Sanavasi, one of the
Theras of the Paveyyakas in the Second council, and the famous
Sanakavasin, preceptor of the Sarvastivadin patriarch Upagupta. I
have since checked up in Nalinaksha Dutt's work on the sects, and
can confirm that they are indeed the same. He was supposed to have
been ordained by Ananda himself, and is mentioned in many if not all
the accounts of the Second Council, including the Theravada. He, and
probably others of the Theras, were of the party that were to emerge
as the Sarvastivada. Thus the Sarvastivadin ancestors were on the
same 'side' as the Theravadins at that Council. This is the
ordination tradition from which the Tibetan lineage ultimately
derives. In fact, the Tibetans are Mulasarvastivada, and that sub-
sect is said by some to center around Mathura, which was Sanavasin's
home town. The Theravadins still accord that great Sarvastivadin
elder a position of respect within their own Vinaya.