諸經要集 10.170

10.170

Furthermore, the Sarvapuṇyasamuccaya-samādhi-sūtra says: Long ago in the past, Śākyamuni was an ascetic endowed with the five supernormal powers, named Viśiṣṭa. Furthermore, according to the Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa: When the Buddha Śākyamuni was formerly a bodhisattva, his name was Dharmakāma. At that time there was no Buddha in the world, and good words could not be heard. He sought the Dharma in the four directions with unflagging diligence, but could not obtain it at all. At that time, Māra transformed himself into a brāhmaṇa and spoke to him, saying: "I have a verse spoken by a Buddha. If you can use your skin as paper, your bones as a pen, and your blood as ink to copy this verse, I will give it to you." Dharmakāma immediately thought to himself: "In lifetime after lifetime I have lost my body countlessly without gaining this benefit." He then flayed his own skin and exposed it to dry, wishing to write the verse. Māra then made his body vanish. At that time the Buddha, knowing his utmost sincerity, leapt forth from the realm below and expounded the profound Dharma for him, whereupon he immediately attained the endurance of the non-arising of dharmas.