阿彌陀經疏 1.28

1.28

Answer: 'Whenever the Great Sage sets forth a model, there is always an impetus; however, because the event was not extraordinary, the translator omitted it without recounting it. Why is this? Because when this assembly gathered, it was known that they would certainly request the Dharma; therefore the Tathāgata spoke without being asked. One should know that the assembly gathering implicitly contains the initiation. In the new translation, there are indeed words to this effect; thus, at the end of the assembly gathering in that sūtra, it says: 'For the sake of hearing the Dharma, they all came and assembled at the seat.' This is it. As for all sūtras possessing these six elements such as 'Thus': the *Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa* explains that when the Buddha was about to pass into extinction, Ānanda inquired: 'What words should be placed at the head of all sūtras?' He answered: 'You should say: "Thus have I heard: at one time the Buddha was dwelling in such-and-such a country with such-and-such a great assembly," and so on. Is this true only for me? The beginnings of the sūtras of all Buddhas of the three periods of time are all like this.'