妙法蓮華經玄贊 1.39

1.39

結集之緣如藏章說。《注法華》云：「如是者感應之瑞，如以順機受名，是以無非立稱。眾生以無非為感，如來以順機為應，傳經者欲顯名教出於感應，故建言『如是』。」《注無量義》云：「至人說法但為顯如，唯如為是，故言『如是』。」寶公云：「以離五謗名為如是。第一句，如是此經離執有增益謗。第二句，如是此經離執無損減謗。第三句，如是此經離執亦有亦無相違謗。第四句，如是此經離執非有非無愚癡謗。第五句，如是此經離執非非有非非無戲論謗。」光宅云：「『如是』，將傳所聞前，題舉一部也。如是一部經，我親從佛聞，即為『我聞』作呼轍耳。」梁武帝云：「『如是』如斯之義，是佛所說故言如是。」長耳三藏云：「如是有三：一就佛，三世諸佛共說不異名如，以同說故稱是。二就法，諸法實相古今不異故名為如，為如而說故稱為是。三就僧，以阿難聞望佛本教，所傳不異故名為如，永離過非故稱為是。」由此同說，稱理無謬，所傳不異故經可信。以上合有一十五釋。

The circumstances of the compilation are as explained in the chapter on the [Tri]piṭaka. The Commentary on the Lotus Sūtra says: "'Thus' is an auspicious sign of resonance: 'ru' (thus) takes its name from according with capacities; 'shi' (this/right) establishes its designation from being without error. Sentient beings take being without error as the stimulus; the Tathāgata takes according with capacities as the response. The transmitter of the sūtra, wishing to reveal that the nominal teaching arises from stimulus and response, therefore establishes the words 'Thus [have I heard]'." The Commentary on the Anantanirdeśa says: "When the ultimate person preaches the Dharma, it is merely to reveal thusness (tathatā); only thusness is right (shi), hence he says 'thus' (rushi)." Master Bao said: "Because it is free from the five slanders, it is called 'thus'. The first phrase: thus, this sūtra is free from the slander of increase by clinging to existence. The second phrase: thus, this sūtra is free from the slander of decrease by clinging to non-existence. The third phrase: thus, this sūtra is free from the slander of contradiction by clinging to both existence and non-existence. The fourth phrase: thus, this sūtra is free from the slander of ignorance by clinging to neither existence nor non-existence. The fifth phrase: thus, this sūtra is free from the slander of conceptual proliferation by clinging to neither non-existence nor non-non-existence." Guangzhai said: "'Thus' introduces and presents the entire work before transmitting what was heard. 'Such an entire sūtra, I personally heard from the Buddha'—it simply serves as an introductory call for 'I have heard'." Emperor Wu of Liang said: "'Thus' has the meaning of 'like this'; because it was spoken by the Buddha, he says 'thus'." Tripiṭaka Master Chang'er said: "'Thus' has three [aspects]: First, in terms of the Buddha: what the buddhas of the three times preach together without difference is called 'ru' (thus); because they speak identically, it is called 'shi' (right). Second, in terms of the Dharma: the true mark of all dharmas does not differ in past or present, hence it is called 'ru' (thus); because it is preached for the sake of thusness, it is called 'shi' (right). Third, in terms of the Saṅgha: Ānanda's hearing, looking toward the Buddha's original teaching, is transmitted without difference, hence it is called 'ru' (thus); being eternally free from error, it is called 'shi' (right)." Because it was preached identically, conforms to principle without error, and was transmitted without difference, the sūtra is credible. Together with the above, there are fifteen explanations in total.