The Buddha rules that those who formerly belonged to other sects and wish to go forth must first serve a period of probation before receiving full ordination. The Pali canon of the Southern tradition says Subhadda volunteered to serve a probation of four years. Pali Canon
More sources (1)
Different Accounts
The probation period: the Pali canon of the Southern tradition, the Chinese Youxing jing and Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya and the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra translated by Faxian have four months; the Chinese Fo bannihuan jing and Bannihuan jing have three months.
More differences between accounts (1)
The Tibetan Vinaya says that Sakyans and fire-worshipping, long-haired ascetics need not serve the probation.
Dating
Year 45 after the Awakening, the Buddha aged seventy-nine to eighty, after the , on the night of the passing; stated in the canonical text; it can be fixed to this night.
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Research Notes: Reliability, Dating and Sources
- How Reliability Is Assessed
Recorded by five schools: the Pali canon of the Southern tradition, the Chinese Dīrgha Āgama, the Chinese Kṣudrakavastu of the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya, the Chinese Fo bannihuan jing and Bannihuan jing and the Chinese three-fascicle Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra. Attested across multiple schools.
- Dating Evidence and Precision
Stated in the canonical text (the text itself gives the time). Time precision: fixed to the day.
Sources
- 藏譯（德格版）德格版 D6 da 287b1–287b6
- 藏譯（德格版）德格版 D6 da 287b2–287b5
- Pali Canon巴利 DN 16:5.29.1–5.29.4
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.1 p.25b
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.1 p.26a
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.5 p.172b
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.6 p.188a
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.7 p.204b
- 大正藏大正藏 T24 no.1451 p.398c
- Pali Canon巴利律 Kd 1Entire text
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Ap-a，§82