法苑珠林 82.60

82.60

As the Bodhisattvapiṭaka Sūtra says: 'Wrath and anger can swiftly destroy the roots of goodness accumulated over hundreds of thousands of mahākalpas. If one's roots of goodness have been destroyed by anger, one must pass through hundreds of thousands of mahākalpas before again beginning to practice the noble path with diligence and hardship. If it is so, anuttarasambodhi is extremely difficult to attain. For this reason, I must put on the armour of forbearance and crush the army of anger with steadfast strength. Śāriputra, I now explain this matter broadly for you: I recall that in the past, when I was a great ṛṣi named Practice Abode, at that time an evil Māra transformed into five hundred strong-cursing men, who constantly pursued me and raised all kinds of evil revilements, day and night, coming and going, walking, standing, sitting, lying down, in monasteries, quiet rooms, villages, and secular homes, whether in streets and lanes or in quiet, empty places, following my sitting and standing. These transformed Māras reviled, cursed, and scolded me with coarse and harsh words for a full five hundred years without ever resting. Śāriputra, I myself recall that during those five hundred years of being scolded and slandered by those Māras, I never gave rise to the slightest resentful thought toward them; I constantly aroused compassionate rescue and observed them with it.'