佛祖統紀 1.78

1.78

The chapter 'Never Disparaging' says: 'In antiquity there was a Buddha named King of Majestic Voice. After his extinction, another Buddha appeared, also named King of Majestic Voice. In this manner there were twenty thousand koṭis of Buddhas, all of the same name. During the time of the first King of Majestic Voice Tathāgata, there was a monk named Never Disparaging. Whenever he saw members of the fourfold assembly, he would bow down to them and praise them, saying: "I dare not disparage you, for you shall all become Buddhas." Among the fourfold assembly, there were those who gave rise to anger and foul-mouthed abuse, saying: "We have no need for such false and empty predictions." Through the passage of many years, the multitude would strike and pelt him with sticks, wood, tiles, and stones. Running away to stand at a distance, he would still call out in a loud voice: "I dare not disparage you, for you shall all become Buddhas." Because he constantly spoke these words, the arrogant fourfold assembly gave him the name Never Disparaging. When this monk was about to die, in the open air he fully heard the Lotus Sūtra previously expounded by King of Majestic Voice Buddha; he immediately attained the purity of the six faculties, had his life span further prolonged, and expounded it broadly for people. At that time, the arrogant fourfold assembly who had made for him the name Never Disparaging, seeing him attain great supernatural powers, all faithfully submitted to and followed him. This bodhisattva further transformed thousands of myriads of koṭis of beings, causing them to dwell in bodhi. After his life ended, he met two thousand koṭis of Buddhas, all named Sun-Moon Light; within their Dharma, he expounded this Lotus Sūtra. He again met two thousand koṭis of Buddhas, all identically named Cloud Autonomous Lamp King, and for the fourfold assemblies expounded this classic. Later he again met thousands of myriads of koṭis of Buddhas and also expounded this sūtra. His merit having been accomplished, he was to become a Buddha. The one who was Never Disparaging at that time was indeed my own person.' (The Wenju says: 'Śākyamuni appeared in the world and hesitated without speaking, whereas Never Disparaging spoke precipitously at first sight. Why is this? Answer: Those who already had roots of goodness in the past, Śākyamuni sheltered and nurtured with the small; those who did not yet have roots of goodness in the past, Never Disparaging forcibly poisoned with the great.')