Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c19.s1.4

v1.c19.s1.4

Buddha's first converts were the five brahmins Aññāta-koṇḍañña, Vappa, Bhaddiya, Mahānāma and Assaji, his quondam companions.³ The words in which they sought admission into the order were simply "*labheyyāmā mayaṃ bhante bhagavato santike pabbajjaṃ, labheyyāmā upasampadan ti.*" There was no formality, the only reply given by the Teacher was "*etha bhikkhavo ti.*" The next batch of persons to accept his teaching was Yasa of Benares and his four friends Vimala, Subāhu, Puṇṇaji and Gavampati, and his fifty other friends, and the procedure for admission was the same as above. Now there were in all sixty disciples who were all arhats. Buddha then sent out the sixty arhats to as many places as they could reach, directing them not to go to one place even in twos.¹ He himself went to Uruvela Senā-nigamo.