提婆達多是佛陀的堂弟，隨佛陀出家後，經常在僧團中興風作浪。他蠱惑阿闍世太子篡奪王位，並相約待其成為新王，自己也要取代佛陀，成為新佛。曾收買惡漢行刺佛陀，也曾以醉象、大石害佛，終不得逞。佛弟子們對提婆達多三番兩次欲害佛陀，憤恨不已，但佛陀認為，提婆達多是他的逆增上緣；因為沒有黑暗顯不出光明，沒有罪惡不知道善美。

Devadatta was the Buddha's cousin. After he renounced, he often caused disruption within the Sangha. He manipulated Prince Ajatasatru into usurping the throne, and they agreed that after the prince became king, Devadatta himself would replace the Buddha. He made several attempts to kill the Buddha: he hired assassins, set a drunken elephant upon him and had boulders fall down on him. However, his plans never succeeded. The other disciples resented Devadatta for his repeated attempts to harm the Buddha. However, the Buddha saw Devadatta as instrumental in helping him with his cultivation. For without darkness there is no light; without the presence of evil, one would not know goodness.

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