The Long Āgama Sūtra 9.8

9.8

「諸比丘！時，國人民奉尼乾者，厭患此輩鬪訟之聲，皆由其法不真正故；法不真正無由出要，譬如朽塔不可復圬，此非三耶三佛所說。諸比丘！唯我釋迦無上尊法，最為真正可得出要，譬如新塔易可嚴飾，此是三耶三佛之所說也。諸比丘！我等今者，宜集法、律，以防諍訟，使梵行久立，多所饒益，天、人獲安。諸比丘！如來說一正法，一切眾生皆仰食存。如來所說復有一法，一切眾生皆由行往，是為一法如來所說，當共集之，以防諍訟，使梵行久立，多所饒益，天、人獲安。

“Monks, the people of the country who make offerings to the Nirgranthas are weary and troubled by the noise of their fighting. As a result, they consider their teaching to be untrue. A teaching that’s untrue has no way to escape, just as a ruined shrine cannot be repainted. It’s not the teaching of a completely awakened one. Monks, only we Śākyans have the unsurpassed, noble teaching that’s truest and can lead to the escape, just as a newly built shrine is easily decorated. It’s the teaching of a completely awakened one.

“Monks, today, we ought to collect the Dharma and Vinaya to safeguard them from disputes, establish the religious life for a long time, and benefit many people so that gods and humans will obtain peace.

“Monks, the Tathāgata teaches one correct thing: All sentient beings look to food for their sustenance.

“There’s another thing taught by the Tathāgata: All sentient beings are reborn as a result of their actions.

“These are the single things taught by the Tathāgata that we ought to collect to safeguard them from dispute, establish the religious life for a long time, and benefit many people so that gods and people will obtain peace.