出三藏記集 9.82

9.82

The Piyu jing (Avadāna Sūtra) consists of words spoken by the Tathāgata according to circumstances and expedients on four occasions, expounding and magnifying the teachings and providing essentials for instruction and guidance. Drawing upon things and citing types, they mutually verify one another, illuminating good and evil, transgression, blessing, and retribution. All can awaken the mind and free one from the three evil paths. What is heard today does not record one in a hundred million, while texts copied before and after frequently duplicate one another. Now I have compiled and gathered them again, taking each episode as a single section to make ten fascicles. Aligning the beginning and end, I have made each item distinct, so that it may be easily understood and leave no doubt in the mind. I hope the worthy of all the realm will have something to follow and venerate, ascending forever to the hall of blessings as a foundation for the future.