The Long Āgama Sūtra 15.10

15.10

「時，我語言：『吾可請汝於我法中淨修梵行，當為汝現神足耶？』復當語我：『如來當為我現神足變化，然後我當修梵行耶？』時，善宿報我言：『不也。世尊！』佛告善宿：『我亦不語汝言：汝於我法中淨修梵行，當為汝現神足變化；汝亦不言為我現神足者，當修梵行。云何，善宿！如汝意者，謂如來能現神足、為不能現耶？我所說法，彼法能得出要，盡苦際不耶？』善宿白佛言：『如是，世尊！如來能現神足，非為不能，所可說法，能得出要，盡諸苦際，非為不盡。』『是故，善宿！我所說法修梵行者，能現神足，非為不能，出要離苦，非不能離，汝於此法欲何所求？』

“I said, ‘Did I ask that you to purely cultivate the religious life according to my teaching if I demonstrate my miraculous abilities for you? Did you say to me, “I will practice the religious life after the Tathāgata demonstrates miraculous abilities and miracles for me”?’

“Sunakṣatra replied, ‘No, Bhagavān.’

“I told Sunakṣatra, ‘But I didn’t say to you, ‘You practice the religious life under my teaching, and I will demonstrate miraculous abilities and miracles for you.’ Nor did you say, ‘I’ll cultivate the religious life when you demonstrate miraculous abilities for me.’

“‘How is it, Sunakṣatra? What do you think? Can the Tathāgata demonstrate miraculous abilities, or can’t he? Can one use the Dharma that I teach to escape and reach the end of suffering?’

“Sunakṣatra said to me, ‘Yes, Bhagavān. The Tathāgata can demonstrate miraculous abilities. It’s not that he can’t. One can use the Dharma that he teaches to escape and reach the end of suffering. It’s not that they can’t.’

“‘So, Sunakṣatra, someone who cultivates the religious life under my teaching can demonstrate miraculous abilities. It’s not that they can’t. They can escape from suffering. It’s not that they can’t escape it. What do you seek from this teaching?’