佛說處處經 1.50

1.50

The Buddha said: 'Devadatta only teaches people to make merit; he does not teach people to practice the Way. The Buddha teaches people to make merit, observe the precepts, and guard the mind, resting only when they have attained the Way. Devadatta gave rise to a thought in his mind: "I shall manifest riddhipāda before King Ajātaśatru. If the king follows me, other people will all follow as well. I will transform myself into a white elephant and enter and leave the palace alone." He then transformed himself into a young boy of peerless handsomeness and climbed up onto the king's lap, and the king grew exceedingly fond of him. Seeing what Devadatta had done, the king thought to himself that Devadatta surpassed the Buddha, and the king followed what Devadatta said. The king's officials and commoners, as well as the śramaṇas who had not yet attained the Way, all followed the king to Devadatta's dwelling to inquire about matters. Devadatta then came to where the Buddha was and said: "The Buddha is old; there is no need for him to teach the disciples any longer." Devadatta then summoned Śāriputra to leave, along with the other śramaṇas. Because of his deluded greed, Devadatta had this evil intention, and consequently he lost his riddhipāda.'