The Long Āgama Sūtra 18.29

18.29

佛告舍利弗：「若有外道異學來問汝言：『過去沙門、婆羅門與沙門瞿曇等不？』汝當云何答？彼復問言：『未來沙門、婆羅門與沙門瞿曇等不？』汝當云何答？彼復問言現在沙門、婆羅門與沙門瞿曇等不？汝當云何答？」

The Buddha told Śāriputra, “Suppose someone from another religion and a different training comes and asks you, ‘Weren’t the ascetics and priests of the past equals of the ascetic Gautama?’ What would be your answer? Again, they ask, ‘Won’t the ascetics and priests of the future be equals of the ascetic Gautama?’ What would be your answer? Again, they ask, ‘Aren’t the ascetics and priests of the present equals of the ascetic Gautama?’ What would be your answer?”