金剛經纂要刊定記 1.13

1.13

Next, clarifying that the character "sūtra" possesses three meanings. According to the explanations of various masters, there are collectively many meanings, such as a welling spring, giving birth, a carpenter's plumb-line, a garland, and the like. But in the Buddhabhūmi[-vyākhyāna] Treatise, only two meanings are spoken of, namely, threading and holding: threading through the meanings that ought to be taught, and holding the sentient beings who are to be transformed. Furthermore, though the Tathāgata entered extinction more than two thousand years ago, his bequeathed style remains present; that we are able to hear the correct Dharma is entirely due to the threading meaning of the sūtras. Sentient beings wander aimlessly without knowing what to follow; that they gain the Buddha's gate of teaching and all return to the correct path is entirely due to the holding meaning of the sūtras. Possessing these two meanings, it is therefore called a sūtra. Now to these two we further add the meaning of "constant" to correspond to the three kinds of prajñā: ultimate-reality is constant, contemplative illumination threads, and the literary holds.