The Buddha’s Final Nibbana
87
I was twenty-nine years of age, Subhadda, When I went forth in search of what is good. Now it is more than fifty years Since I went forth, Subhadda, To abide in the realm of the way of Truth, Outside which there is no ascetic— nor the second, nor the third, nor the fourth ascetic. Other contrary systems are empty of ascetics, but if the monks here live properly, the world should not be empty of arahats.’ At this Subhadda the wanderer said to the Blessed One: ‘Excellent, sir! Excellent! As if someone were to set upright what had been knocked down, or reveal what had been hidden, or point out the way to someone who was lost, or hold a lamp up in the dark so that those with eyes could see — just so the Blessed One has made the Truth clear in various ways. Sir, I go to the Blessed One for refuge, and to the Teaching and the Community of monks. I should like to receive the going-forth ordination in the presence of the Blessed One. I should like to receive higher ordination.’* ‘Subhadda, someone who was previously a follower of another religious school and who wants to receive the going-forth and higher ordinations in this system of teaching and discipline should wait four months. After four months, when the monks are satisfied in their minds, they will bestow the going-forth and higher ordinations to make him a monk. But in this particular case I recognize that people can be different.’ ‘Sir, if those who were previously the followers of another religious school and who want to receive the going-forth and higher ordinations in this system of teaching and discipline should wait four months, and after four months, when the monks are satisfied in their minds, they will bestow the going-forth and higher ordinations to make them monks, then I shall wait four years, and after four years, when the monks are satisfied in their minds, they may bestow the going-forth and higher ordinations to make me a monk.’ Then the Blessed One spoke to the venerable Ānanda: ‘Therefore, Ānanda, you should bestow on the wanderer Subhadda the goingforth ordination.’ ‘Yes, sir,’ replied the venerable Ānanda to the Blessed One.
152