大宋僧史略 1.12

1.12

Regarding the Buddha's birthday, various accounts differ. First, his manifestations and appearances were extraordinary, teaching according to whatever conditions he met, hence what was seen and heard differed. Second, among the monks who came from the Western Regions, their birthplaces included cities and villages, and their transmitted matters belonged to different lineages and doctrines, hence their accounts differed. Third, the Western Regions were simple and rustic, rarely keeping records of ordinary events, being relaxed and not prizing detail, hence the transmissions differed. Now, relying on eastern records as well as what is clarified in the scriptures and vinaya, there are various accounts.