法苑珠林 98.41

98.41

Then the bhikṣu reported Ānanda's words to his master. The master told him: 'Ānanda is old and decrepit, his wisdom has decayed; his words contain many errors and are not to be believed. Now you should merely recite as before.' Later, Ānanda heard that bhikṣu beneath the bamboo grove still reciting the earlier verse. He asked him the reason, and [the bhikṣu] replied: 'Venerable one, my master told me that Ānanda is old and decrepit, his words are mostly false, and I should merely recite and practice according to what went before.' Ānanda reflected: 'He disdains my words, perhaps having accepted another teaching.' Thereupon he entered samādhi to search for someone of superior virtue, but saw no one who could turn that [monk's] mind. He then spoke these words: 'How extraordinary! Impermanence is exceedingly fierce and powerful, scattering and destroying like this immeasurable sages and worthies, rendering all worlds utterly empty and desolate, constantly dwelling in darkness and walking in dread. Wrong views blaze fiercely and unwholesomeness increases, slandering the Tathāgata and cutting off the true teaching. They will forever sink in the great river of saṃsāra, opening the gates to the evil destinies and closing the path to the human and heavenly realms, enduring all kinds of suffering and affliction for countless kalpas. Today it is fitting for me to enter nirvāṇa.'