阿彌陀經疏 1.6

1.6

As for 'sūtra' (jing), it means standard (fa) and constant (chang). As standard, it is like lifting up the straight to set down the crooked, compared to a plumb line; as constant, it is like drawing water without exhaustion, compared to a bubbling spring; thus it is called a sūtra. The Buddhabhūmi-śāstra says: 'Because it can string together and hold together, it is called a sūtra; because the Buddha's holy teaching strings together and holds together the intended meanings to be spoken, it is called a sūtra.'