After Buddha’s death, zeal of Kathaba in upholding genuine doctrines—He selects five hundred elders to become members of a council or assembly—Radzagio is fixed upon for the holding of the council—He repairs thither with a portion of the appointed members—Behaviour of the amiable Ananda previous to his departure for Radzagio—King Adzatathat supports Kathaba in his views—The hall for holding the council is prepared by his orders—Ananda is qualified in a miraculous manner for sitting as a member of the council—Holding of the council under the presidency of Kathaba—Establishment of the Religious era—Destruction of Wethalie by Adzatathat—The successors of that Prince—In the days of King Kalathoka a second council is held at Pataliputra under the presidency of Ratha—Causes that provoked the holding of a second assembly 101 CHAPTER V. Kalathoka is succeeded by his eldest son, Baddasena—And finally by the youngest, Pitzamuka—This prince is killed and succeeded by a chief of robbers, named Ouggasena-nanda—King Tsanda-gutta—King Bandasura—Miraculous dreams of Athoka’s mother—King Athoka—His conversion—His zeal for Buddhism—Finding of the relics—Distribution of them—Third council held under the presidency of Mauggalipata—Preaching of religion in various countries, and particularly in Thaton—Voyage of Buddhagosa to Ceylon—Establishment of religion in Pagan—Various particulars relating to the importation of the Scriptures in Burmah 123 AN ABSTRACT OF A FEW SMALL DZATS, AND OF TWO PRINCIPAL ONES, KNOWN AS NEMI AND DZANECKA 153 REMARKS ON THE SITES AND NAMES OF THE PRINCIPAL PLACES MENTIONED IN THE LEGEND OR LIFE OF GAUDAMA 177 THE SEVEN WAYS TO NEIBBAN 189 Art. I.—Of the Precepts 191 Art. II.—Of Meditation and its various Degrees 202 Art. III.—Of the Nature of Beings 212 Art. IV.—Of the Cause of the Form and of the Name, or of Master and Spirit 218 Art. V.—Of the True Meggas or Ways to Perfection 227 Art. VI.—Of the Progress in Perfect Science 233 NOTICE ON THE PHONGYIES, OR BUDDHIST MONKS, SOMETIMES CALLED TALAPOINS 241 Art. I.—A short Parallel between the Brahminical and Buddhistic Religious Orders 244 Art. II.—Nature of the Religious Order of Phongyies 251 Art. III.—Hierarchy of the Order 261