Chapters X–XX in the Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra (SP) present the doctrine of the One Vehicle. The passage of the slanderer’s sin in Chapter X (“The Preacher”) offers a comparison of the sin of abusing the Tathāgata and speaking ill of the dharmabhāṇaka. However, the traditional Chinese, Tibetan and Japanese translations give two different interpretations in comparison with the Sanskrit. The present paper aims to examine the role of the dharmabhāṇaka, and to compare the sin of these slanderous conducts as stated above.
On the authority of the Mahāpaduma Jataka, the slanderer of the Tathāgata will fall into Avici hell immediately. Chapter XIX (“Sadāparibhūta”) of the SP states that the slanderer of the dharmabhāṇaka, who rejects the SP, will fall into Avici hell and stay there for 10 thousand kalpas. Staying in Avici hell during a long period is a hindrance to hear, preach, or worship the SP and as a result the slanderer cannot speedily attain Buddhahood. From the view of the doctrine of the One Vehicle, the sin of speaking ill of the dharmabhāṇaka is much more serious.
