The Chinese Shelifu wen jing (Sutra of Sāriputta's Questions) records Sāriputta asking the Buddha why, in the first twenty years of the Buddha's life as a Buddha, the disciples had no regular support and accepted whatever came, whereas after twenty years regular support became plentiful. The Buddha answers with the story of the past-life deeds of a householder's son, Fenruoduoluo. Source text 1 Source text 2
Different Accounts
This passage is found only in the Shelifu wen jing; which school this sutra belongs to has not yet been settled here, and it serves only as supplementary reference.
Dating
After Year 21 after the Awakening (the Buddha aged fifty-five or more). The text states “after twenty years” but does not say which year; converting this into a year after the Awakening is only an estimate.
Related Entries
- Year
- Places
- People
- Discourses
Research Notes: Reliability, Dating and Sources
- How Reliability Is Assessed
The sources for this event have not yet been fully compared; its reliability is not yet graded.
- Dating Evidence and Precision
Stated in the canonical text (the text itself gives the time); converted from the Buddha's age (reckoned from the Buddha's age). Time precision: year uncertain.
Sources
- 大正藏大正藏 T24 no.1465 p.902b
- 大正藏大正藏 T24 no.1465Entire text