續集古今佛道論衡 1.33

1.33

帝曰。佛道之中亦有仙號以不。法師對曰。仙者並傳梵行。多諸伎術。是以為世所上。佛初成道時。坐於菩提樹下。世人未識是佛光明顯照。咸言摩訶大仙生。未曾有也。舍利弗目連等。坐臥空中神化自在。各相謂言。此是大弟子天仙也。佛以隨機應顯佛號生焉。

The Emperor said, 'Within the Buddha's path, is there also the title of immortal or not?' The Dharma Master replied, 'Immortals all transmit brahmacaryā and possess many arts and skills, and for this reason they are esteemed by the world. When the Buddha first attained the Way and sat beneath the Bodhi tree, worldly people did not yet recognize that he was a Buddha whose light shone brilliantly, and all said: "The Mahā-ṛṣi has been born; it is unprecedented!" When Śāriputra, Maudgalyāyana, and others sat and lay in midair, manifesting spiritual transformations at will, [people] said to one another: "These are the great disciples, the celestial immortals." As the Buddha manifested responsively according to capacities, the title of Buddha arose.'