維摩經略疏 1.63

1.63

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."