The Long Āgama Sūtra 18.30

18.30

時，舍利弗白佛言：「設有是問：『過去沙門、婆羅門與佛等不？』當答言：『有。』設問：『未來沙門、婆羅門與佛等不？』當答言：『有。』設問：『現在沙門、婆羅門與佛等不？』當答言：『無。』」

Śāriputra then said to the Buddha, “If I were asked, ‘Weren’t the ascetics and priests of the past equals of the Buddha?’ I would answer, ‘They were.’ If I was asked, ‘Won’t the ascetics and priests of the future be equals of the Buddha?’ I would answer, ‘They will be.’ If I was asked, ‘Aren’t the ascetics and priests of the present equals of the Buddha?’ I would answer, ‘They aren’t.’”