Gautama Buddha founded and presided over the Sangha, the monastic community he established after his first sermon at the Deer Park, governing it through the Vinaya rules he laid down over forty-five years of teaching.
Ananda joined the Sangha alongside other Shakya princes, rose to become the Buddha's personal attendant, and after the parinirvana recited the entirety of the suttas from memory at the First Council at Rajagriha.
After his conversion on the road, Angulimala was ordained into the Sangha by the Buddha himself, endured the stones and abuse of those who remembered his crimes, and through unwavering practice attained arhatship.
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