On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c17.s3.44

v2.c17.s3.44

In some Buddhist treatises the story of the last disciple is told without any mention of a rule as to four months' probation,¹ and in others the rule is made after Subhadra's ordination.² The Vinaya gives the rule; but all Sakyas, Jaṭilas and Fire-worshippers were to be exempt from its operation.³ So also in the Wa-fên Vinaya and the Ssŭ-fên Vinaya we have the rule made, and in the latter treatise the circumstances which led to its being made are given.⁴ In representing Buddha as telling Subhadra that the rules required four years' probation Yuanchuang apparently makes a slip, as there is no mention of such a rule in the canonical books. Subhadra's profession of readiness to undergo a four years' probation reminds us of the ordination of the naked ascetic Kaśyapa. When the latter was told that he must go through four months' probation before he could be ordained he expressed his willingness to let the months be years.⁵