華嚴經探玄記 2.6

2.6

Second, clarifying the differences between Ānanda and others hearing directly versus hearing indirectly: According to the Hīnayāna, there are two explanations. One says: Since Ānanda was born on the night the Buddha attained the path and became the Buddha's disciple only at age twenty, the sūtras of those twenty years onward were directly heard, while those prior were heard indirectly. Thus the Dharmacakrapravartana Sūtra says: 'When Ānanda compiled [the teachings], he himself spoke a verse, saying: "When the Buddha first expounded the Dharma, / at that time I did not see it; / thus I heard it through indirect transmission."' The Buddha traveled to Vārāṇasī to turn the wheel of the Dharma of the four noble truths for the assembly of five monks; hence we know that prior to this, it was not directly heard. The second says: All were directly heard. Thus the Sarvāstivāda treatise says: 'When Ānanda became the Buddha's attendant, he requested a vow, saying: "May the Buddha fully expound for me all the sūtras expounded during the twenty years."' The Vinayamātṛkā Śāstra also shares this explanation. Hence we know that all were directly heard. If according to the Mahāyāna, all being directly heard has two meanings: First, the Buddha re-expounded them, as in the Śrīmālādevī Sūtra and so forth, where the Buddha returned to his original location and expounded them again for Ānanda. Also, as in the Mahākaruṇā Sūtra above, the Buddha comprehensively re-expounded them, so they are directly heard. Second, Ānanda constantly heard them. The Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra says: 'Ānanda is a man of vast hearing; whether present or absent, he can naturally understand the meanings of permanence and impermanence.' It also says: 'Ānanda attained the samādhi of awakening consciousness; sūtras expounded by the Buddha, whether near or far, he constantly heard.'