Page:Asoka - the Buddhist Emperor of India.djvu/245

Rh king's sin. The saint ruled that where there is no wilful intention, there is no sin, and, accordingly, absolved Asoka, whom be instructed fully in the truth.

The king commanded that all the priests in India, without exception, should be assembled, and taking his seat by the side "of his spiritual director, examined each priest individually as to his faith. The saint decided that the doctrine of the Vaibâdyavâdin school was the true primitive teaching of the master, and all dissenters were expelled, to the number of sixty thousand . A thousand orthodox priests of holy character were then selected to form a convocation or Council. To these assembled priests, Tishya, son of Moggali, recited the treatise called Kathâvatthu in order to dissipate doubts on points of faith . The Council, following the procedure of the First Council at Râagriha and the Second Council at Vaiszili, recited