After the first sermon the Buddha stays on at the Deer Park to teach, while the disciples go out for alms in turn to feed the group. The other four companions attain the in groups, and each becomes a monk by the formula “Come, ”. Pali Canon
More sources (2)
Different Accounts
Grouping: the Pali Vinaya has two groups of two; the later commentaries of the Southern tradition say the four came one each day; the Chinese Dharmaguptaka and Mahīśāsaka Vinayas also have two groups, but with the names in a different order; the Chinese and Tibetan Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya and the Buddha biography Guoqu xianzai yinguo jing say all four attained realization at the same time.
More differences between accounts (2)
The division of the alms round: the Pali Vinaya says three went for alms and six shared the food; the Ariyapariyesanā Sutta of the Southern tradition and the Chinese Madhyama Āgama, Ekottarika Āgama, Dharmaguptaka Vinaya and others say that while two were being taught three went for alms, and while three were being taught two went, in rotation. Taishō Canon
More sources (2)
The Buddha biography Zhong benqi jing places the division of the alms round before the first sermon.
Dating
Year 1 after the Awakening, the Buddha aged thirty-five, during the ; the later commentaries say one each day on days 1 to 4 after the first sermon, so on the commentaries' account each can be fixed to a day.
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Research Notes: Reliability, Dating and Sources
- How Reliability Is Assessed
Recorded by four schools: the Pali canon of the Southern tradition, the Chinese Dharmaguptaka Vinaya (Sifen lü), the Chinese Mahīśāsaka Vinaya (Wufen lü) and the Chinese Madhyama Āgama. Attested across multiple schools.
- Dating Evidence and Precision
Commentarial dating (the canonical texts give no date; later commentaries record it). Time precision: fixed to the day.
Sources
- Pali Canon巴利律 Kd 1:6.33.1–6.37.5
- Pali Canon巴利 MN 26:29.1–29.5
- Pali Canon巴利 MN 85:53.1–53
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.26 p.778a
- 大正藏大正藏 T02 no.125 p.619b
- 大正藏大正藏 T22 no.1428 p.788c–789a
- 大正藏大正藏 T22 no.1421 p.105a
- 大正藏大正藏 T24 no.1450 p.127c
- 大正藏大正藏 T24 no.1450 p.128b
- 大正藏大正藏 T03 no.189 p.644c–645a
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 AN-a，I 147
- 藏譯（德格版）德格版 D1 nga 42b2–42b3
- 藏譯（德格版）德格版 D1 nga 44b5
- 大正藏大正藏 T04 no.196 p.148b