Master Sheng Preaches the Dharma and the Stubborn Stones Nod Their Heads

The monk Daosheng once said: even icchantikas can attain buddhahood. Because there was no basis or proof from any Buddhist sutra, everyone considered this claim to be wrong, but Master Daosheng held to his view and refused to change it, so the crowd expelled him from the sangha. Having no alternative, Master Daosheng explained this principle to the stones, and the stones were moved to nod. Before long, the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra was transmitted from western India to China (Cīnasthāna), in which the Buddha declared that after an icchantika has eliminated all afflictive obstructions and karmic obstacles, he can attain buddhahood. This proved that what the monk Daosheng had said was correct, and only then was he accepted by the sangha and readmitted into it.