經律異相 17.26

17.26

There are people who, although they have severed all afflictions, still display outward signs of affliction in their bodily and verbal actions. When ordinary people see and hear these, impure thoughts arise in their minds. For instance, the arhat Madhuvāśiṣṭha had been a monkey for five hundred lifetimes; although he had now attained the Way, he still leapt about in trees. When foolish people saw this, contempt and arrogance arose in them. Also, the arhat Pilindavatsa had been born among brāhmaṇas for five hundred lifetimes and had acquired a habit of contempt. Although he had now attained the Way, he still spoke to the goddess of the Ganges River, saying, "Little maid, stop the flow!" The Ganges goddess became angry, went to the Buddha, and lodged a complaint. The Buddha taught him to repent, but he still addressed her as "little maid". The Buddha had no such habits. For instance, once an evil-tongued brāhmaṇa cursed the Buddha with five hundred matters, yet the Buddha showed no sign of displeasure. The brāhmaṇa's heart rejoiced, and he then praised the Buddha with five hundred good matters, yet the Buddha also showed no sign of joy. One should know that the Buddha's residual habits of affliction are completely exhausted; hence, to him, the good and the bad are no different. (From the eighty-fourth fascicle of the Da zhidu lun.)