維摩經略疏 1.63

1.63

問：何故經初安如是等，乃至但令修四念處？答：經初安如是等者，為斷疑勸信故，亦為印定佛說非弟子及九十六種所說故，亦為破外人經初以阿漚二字標其教首故。阿漚者，是謂吉相邪僻之事，具如《百論》。惡口車匿梵法治者，其自恃王種輕諸比丘，僧法事時即輕笑言：「如似落葉旋風所吹聚在一處，何所互論？」佛去世後猶自不改。佛令作梵壇，謂默擯也。亦云彼梵天治罪法，別立一壇，其犯法者令入此壇，諸梵不得共語。若心調伏為說那陀迦旃延經者，令離有無即入初果。一家明三藏教，立非有非無門，異於三門，意在此也。教諸比丘依波羅提木叉住者，波羅提木叉此云保得解脫，亦云報解脫、亦云處處解脫。

Question: Why are words such as "Thus" placed at the beginning of the sūtras, down to merely instructing [the disciples] to cultivate the four stations of mindfulness?
Answer: Placing "Thus" and so forth at the beginning of the sūtras is in order to sever doubt and encourage faith; also to certify that it is the Buddha's preaching and not spoken by disciples or the ninety-six heterodox teachers; and also to refute the non-Buddhists' practice of marking the beginning of their teachings with the two syllables a and uṃ. These two syllables, a and uṃ, refer to auspicious signs and deviant practices, as fully explained in the Śataśāstra. Dealing with foul-mouthed Channa by the Brahmā-punishment means that, because he relied on his royal lineage and disdained the monks, whenever there was Sangha business he would scoff and say, "Like fallen leaves blown together into one place by a whirlwind, what is there for you to discuss with one another?" Even after the Buddha passed away, he still did not change. The Buddha instructed that a Brahmā-altar be made for him, which means silent excommunication (brahmadaṇḍa). It is also said to be the Brahmā-heavens' penal rule: a separate altar is erected, and an offender is made to enter this altar, while all the Brahmā gods are forbidden to speak with him. Preaching the Kātyāyana Sūtra to him once his mind was subdued was to cause him to abandon existence and non-existence and directly attain the first fruit. In our school's elucidation of the Tripiṭaka teaching, we establish the approach of neither existence nor non-existence distinct from the three approaches, and this is precisely the intent. Instructing the monks to abide relying on the prātimokṣa means: "prātimokṣa" is translated here as "guaranteed attainment of liberation," also translated as "retributional liberation," and also translated as "liberation in every respect."