On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c17.s3.27

v2.c17.s3.27

Near the tope of the Life-saving Deer, the pilgrim next relates, was a tope which had been erected on the spot where Subhadra died, and we are treated to a short account of the circumstances attending the conversion, ordination, and death of this man as Yuan-chuang knew them. When the Buddha was on his death-bed and on the day before he died Subhadra, who was a brahmin teacher 120 years old, came to the Twin Trees to see Buddha, and obtain from him the solution of some doubts and difficulties. Ānanda refused to admit the old enquirer fearing he would weary the Master, but Subhadra urged his request and he was finally admitted. Then addressing the Buddha he said— "There are the self-styled Masters of the [six] other Communities all with different systems of doctrine which they teach for the guidance of lay-people— Does Gautama know these all"? To this the Buddha made answer— "I have made myself thoroughly acquainted with them all, and will describe them to you". When Subhadra heard this, he believed and understood with pure mind, and then he prayed to be admitted into the Order. Buddha then told him that a four years' probation was required before the professed adherent of another system could receive ordination as a bhikshu in the Buddhist brotherhood The probation, he said, was to allow the conduct and disposition of the applicant to be observed, and if his deportment were found to be correct, and his language truthful, he could become a bhikshu— "But it depends on the individual's conduct", added the Buddha, "and there is no difficulty [in your case]". To this Subhadra replied— "The Lord is compassionate and an impartial Saviour. Let there be four years of probation; my three organs [mouth, body, and mind] will be in accordance with what is right". To this the Buddha replied— "I have already said— "it depends on the individual's conduct" ". So Subhadra was admitted into the Order, and ordained as a bhikshu. He thereupon devoted all his energies to the attainment of spiritual perfection, and early in the night realized in himself the state of arhatship. Then as he could not bear to see the death of the Master he, in the presence of the congregation, made miraculous manifestations and passed away by the samādhi of elemental fire.