The Long Āgama Sūtra 17.9

17.9

世尊告周那沙彌曰：「如是。周那！彼非法中不足聽聞，此非三耶三佛所說，猶如朽塔難可汙色。彼雖有師，盡懷邪見；雖復有法，盡不真正，不足聽採，不能出要，非是三耶三佛所說，猶如故塔不可汙也。彼諸弟子有不順其法，捨彼異見，行於正見。周那！若有人來語彼弟子：『諸賢！汝師法正，當於中行，何以捨離？』其彼弟子信其言者，則二俱失道，獲無量罪，所以者何？彼雖有法，然不真正故。周那！若師不邪見，其法真正，善可聽採，能得出要，三耶三佛所說，譬如新塔易可汙色。然諸弟子於此法中，不能勤修，不能成就，捨平等道，入於邪見，若有人來語彼弟子：『諸賢！汝師法正，當於中行，何以捨離，入於邪見？』其彼弟子信其言者，則二俱見真正，獲無量福。所以者何？其法真正。」

The Bhagavān told Cunda, “So it is, Cunda. That’s not a teaching that’s worth hearing, nor is it the teaching of a Completely Awakened One. It’s like a crumbling shrine that’s difficult to paint. Although they had a teacher, the views he held were all wrong. Although they also have a teaching, none of it is true. It isn’t worth hearing and can’t escape [suffering]. This isn’t the teaching of a Completely Awakened One. It’s like an ancient shine that can’t be painted. The disciples who didn’t follow his teaching and abandoned his different views practiced right view.

“Cunda, suppose someone came and said to those disciples, ‘Good men, your teacher’s Dharma was correct. You ought to put it into practice. Why did you abandon it?’ Those disciples who believe it and the speaker will both lose the path and get measureless misdeeds. Why is that? Although they have a teaching, it isn’t true.

“Cunda, suppose the teacher doesn’t have wrong views. His teaching is true, good to hear, and can reach the escape. That’s the teaching of a Completely Awakened One. It’s like a newly built shrine that’s easy to paint. Still, disciples who don’t diligently cultivate his teaching can’t accomplish it. They abandon the equal path and take up wrong views.

“Suppose someone came and said to those disciples, ‘Good men, your teacher’s Dharma was correct. You ought to put it into practice. Why did you abandon it and take up wrong views?’ Those disciples who believe it and the speaker will both see correctly and get measureless merits. Why is that? Their teaching is true.”