阿彌陀經通贊疏 1.30

1.30

Correctly explaining the text: The Buddhabhūmi-śāstra states that the phrase "thus" (evaṃ) is employed according to four meanings: First, relying on metaphor, as when one says, "such wealth like Vaiśravaṇa." The Dharma transmitted and heard in this way is just as the Buddha spoke, definitively without difference, definitively being the cause of the means for benefit and joy; or, the words and phrases that should be spoken are just as I formerly heard. Second, relying on instruction, as when one says, "You should read and recite sūtras and treatises in this way." Here "thus," remotely, is the instruction of the Buddha; proximately, it is the instruction of the transmitter of the Dharma. Third, relying on question and answer, that is, when there is a question: "Did you definitely hear formerly what you are about to speak?" To this, one replies: "Thus have I heard." Fourth, relying on assent, as when one says, "I shall think thus, act thus, and speak thus for you." That is, at the time of the compilation, the bodhisattvas all requested together: "As you have heard, you should speak thus." The bodhisattva transmitting the Dharma then assented, saying: "Thus shall I speak, just as I have heard"; or assented with faith, saying: "This matter is thus; that is, such Dharma was formerly heard by me, this matter is thus, so this shall be spoken, definitively without difference." Because of these four meanings, "Thus have I heard" is placed at the beginning of sūtras. Tripiṭaka Master Paramārtha said: The Subtile Vinaya explains that when Ānanda ascended the seat to compile the Dharma treasury, his body was like a true Buddha, endowed with all the marks; when he descended from the seat, he returned to his original form. Examination of the Record of Compiling the Canon also makes this statement. The assembly had three doubts: First, they suspected that the Buddha, out of great compassion, had arisen from nirvāṇa to speak the wondrous Dharma once again; second, they suspected that another Buddha had come from another realm to dwell here and preach the Dharma; third, they suspected that Ānanda had transformed his body into a Buddha to preach the Dharma for the assembly. Now, showing that "such Dharma spoken was personally heard by me formerly when serving the Buddha, not that the Buddha arose again, another Buddha arrived, or [Ānanda] transformed his body into a Buddha," in order to remove these doubts, the beginning of the sūtra states, "Thus have I heard." The circumstances of the compilation are as recorded in the essay on the Canon; such are several explanations above.