法苑珠林 23.97

23.97

At that time, the bhikṣus took the essential, abridged meanings and flavors from the sūtras and explained them to transform others without following the sequence. Thereupon the bhikṣus felt ashamed and fearful, worried that they were contravening the sūtras and Vinaya, and reported this in full to the Buddha. At that time, the Buddha addressed the bhikṣus, saying: “I permit you, as convenient, to select the essential meanings from the sūtras, arrange the phrases and sentences, and preach the Dharma for people. Just grasp the central meaning and do not corrupt the original text of the sūtra.”