The Long Āgama Sūtra 27.45

27.45

又白佛言：「我昔一時至散若毘羅梨子所，問言：『大德！如人乘象、馬車，習於兵法，乃至種種營生，皆現有果報；今者此眾現在修道，現得報不？』彼答我言：『大王！現有沙門果報，問如是，答此事如是，此事實，此事異，此事非異非不異。大王！現無沙門果報，問如是，答此事如是，此事實，此事異，此事非異非不異。大王！現有無沙門果報，問如是，答此事如是，此事實，此事異，此事非異非不異。大王！現非有非無沙門果報，問如是，答此事如是，此事實，此事異，此事非異非不異。』世尊！猶如人問李瓜報，問瓜李報。彼亦如是，我問現得報不？而彼異論答我。我即自念言：『我是剎利王，水澆頭種，無緣殺出家人，繫縛驅遣。』時，我懷忿結心，作是念已，即便捨去。」

He also said to the Buddha, “There was one time I went to Saṃjayin Vairaṭīputra and asked him, ‘Venerable, just as people ride elephants and horse chariots armed with … martial methods … various occupations give rise their rewards in the present. Now, this assembly presently cultivates the path. What reward do they obtain in the present?’

“He answered me, ‘Great king, “Is there a reward for ascetics in the present?” Questioned thus, I would answer this subject in this way: “This is something real, this is something different, or this is something neither different nor not different.” Great king: “Is there no reward for ascetics in the present?” Questioned thus, I would answer this subject in this way: “This is something real, this is something different, or this is something neither different nor not different.” Great king: “Is there both a reward and no reward for ascetics in the present?” Questioned thus, I would answer this subject in this way: “This is something real, this is something different, and this is something neither different nor not different.” Great king: “Is there neither a reward nor no reward for ascetics in the present?” Questioned thus, I would answer this subject in this way: “This is something real, this is something different, or this is something neither different nor not different.”’

“Bhagavān, it was like someone asking about a melon and getting an answer about a plum; he was likewise. I asked if they attain rewards in the present or not, and he answered me with those different positions. So, I then thought, ‘I am a warrior king whose head was anointed with water. There’s no reason to kill this mendicant, but I should bind him and drive him away!’ I felt anger that fettered my mind. Having had this thought, I then departed.”