SN47.12 — Nālanda Sutta
At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Nālandā in Pāvārika's mango grove. Then, the Venerable Sāriputta approached the Blessed One, and having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. While seated to one side, the Venerable Sāriputta said to the Blessed One:
Revered Sir, I have such confidence in the Blessed One that I believe there has never been, nor will there be, nor is there now another ascetic or brahmin more enlightened than the Blessed One with respect to perfect enlightenment.
Your words, Sāriputta, are indeed bold and confident, a lion's roar, declaring that you have such confidence in the Blessed One that there has never been, nor will there be, nor is there now another ascetic or brahmin more enlightened than the Blessed One with respect to perfect enlightenment. But, Sāriputta, have you known all the past Arahants, the perfectly enlightened Buddhas, by way of the mind, having comprehended them with your mind, to declare: Such were the virtues of those Blessed Ones, or Such were the teachings of those Blessed Ones, or Such was the wisdom of those Blessed Ones, or Such were the dwellings of those Blessed Ones, or Such was the liberation of those Blessed Ones?
No, revered Sir.
Then, Sāriputta, have you known all the future Arahants, the perfectly enlightened Buddhas, by way of the mind, having comprehended them with your mind, to declare: Such will be the virtues of those Blessed Ones, or Such will be the teachings of those Blessed Ones, or Such will be the wisdom of those Blessed Ones, or Such will be the dwellings of those Blessed Ones, or Such will be the liberation of those Blessed Ones?
No, revered Sir.
Then, Sāriputta, have you known me, the present Arahant, the perfectly enlightened Buddha, by way of the mind, having comprehended me with your mind, to declare: Such is the virtue of the Blessed One, or Such is the teaching of the Blessed One, or Such is the wisdom of the Blessed One, or Such is the dwelling of the Blessed One, or Such is the liberation of the Blessed One?
No, revered Sir.
In that case, Sāriputta, you do not have the knowing of the minds of the Arahants, the perfectly enlightened Buddhas of the past, future, and present. So, on what basis do you make such bold and confident statements, a lion's roar, declaring that you have such confidence in the Blessed One that there has never been, nor will there be, nor is there now another ascetic or brahmin more enlightened than the Blessed One with respect to perfect enlightenment?
Venerable Sir, I do not possess the knowing of the minds of the Arahants and Perfectly Enlightened Buddhas of the past, future, and present. However, I have understood the principle of the Dhamma. Just as, Venerable Sir, a frontier city with strong foundations, a strong wall, and a single gate, has a wise, skilled, and intelligent gatekeeper who prevents the entry of strangers and allows the entry of known persons. As he surveys the path around the city, he does not see a gap in the wall or a breach, not even a hole large enough for a cat to pass through. He would conclude, Whatever gross beings enter or leave this city, they all do so through this gate alone.
In the same way, Venerable Sir, I have understood the principle of the Dhamma: All those Arahants and Perfectly Enlightened Buddhas of the past, having abandoned the five hindrances, the defilements of the mind that weaken wisdom, having well-established their minds in the four foundations of mindfulness, and having developed the seven factors of enlightenment as they truly are, attained the unsurpassed perfect enlightenment. All those Arahants and Perfectly Enlightened Buddhas of the future will, having abandoned the five hindrances, the defilements of the mind that weaken wisdom, having well-established their minds in the four foundations of mindfulness, and having developed the seven factors of enlightenment as they truly are, attain the unsurpassed perfect enlightenment. The Blessed One, Venerable Sir, who is now an Arahant and Perfectly Enlightened Buddha, having abandoned the five hindrances, the defilements of the mind that weaken wisdom, having well-established his mind in the four foundations of mindfulness, and having developed the seven factors of enlightenment as they truly are, has attained the unsurpassed perfect enlightenment.
Excellent, excellent, Sāriputta. Therefore, Sāriputta, you should frequently teach this discourse on the Dhamma to the disciples, nuns, male lay followers, and female lay followers. For, Sāriputta, if there are foolish individuals who have doubts or uncertainties about the Tathāgata, upon hearing this discourse on the Dhamma, their doubts or uncertainties about the Tathāgata will be dispelled.