All Buddhas arise in the human world; no one achieves Buddhahood in heaven

Ch’an master Yin Shun’s favorite quote from the Buddhist scriptures is “All Buddhas arise in the human world; no one achieves Buddhahood in heaven.”

This passage is reportedly from the Agamas. Does anyone know which Agama it comes from, and whether there is a similar verse in the Pali suttas?

Hi Kensho, this line is found at EA 34.3, and reads:「佛、世尊皆出人間,非由天而得也!」No parallels are listed on Sutta Central.

Although now I think about it, many similarities to Iti 83 but not completely the same.

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Wow. Thank you.

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There is a similar verse in the Platfrom Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, “The Kingdom of Buddha is in this world, Within which enlightenment is to be sought. To seek enlightenment by separating from this world Is as absurd as to search for a rabbit’s horn.”