法苑珠林 47.23

47.23

Furthermore, the Abhiniṣkramaṇa-sūtra says: At that time, the men of the Śākya clan, altogether ninety-nine thousand, as well as the people dwelling in the city of Kapilavastu, went together from the city wishing to see the Tathāgata. Seeing King Śuddhodana and the great assembly arriving in majestic array from afar, the World-Honoured One immediately thought: "If I see him and do not rise to welcome and honour him, people will say of me: 'How can this be a person of the fruition of moral conduct? Why does he see his father and not rise to go out and welcome him?' If I now see my father and the great assembly and rise to go forward and welcome him, they will incur immeasurable great transgression. If I now maintain my dignified deportment and remain here, they will not give rise to a reverent mind toward me." The Tathāgata formed these three thoughts, and seeing that there were such three causes and conditions, after contemplating these three reasons, he rose from his seat, soared into the sky, and manifested various divine transformations, causing the great assembly to give rise to faith and all enter the Path.