妙法蓮華經玄義 1.222

1.222

二、定妙法前後者，若從義便，應先明法，却論其妙。下文云：「我法妙難思」，若從名便，應先妙、次法。如欲美彼，稱為好人。篤論無人，何所稱好？必應先人後好。今題從名便故，先妙後法；解釋義便故，先法後妙。雖復前後，亦不相乖（云云）。

Second, determining the sequence of "subtle" and "Dharma": if one follows the convenience of the meaning, one should first clarify the Dharma and afterwards discuss its subtlety. A later passage states: "My Dharma is subtle and difficult to conceive." If one follows the convenience of names, one should put "subtle" first and "Dharma" second. For instance, if one wishes to praise someone, one calls him a "good man." But if strictly speaking there were no man, what could be praised as good? Necessarily one must first have the man and then the goodness. Now, because the title follows the convenience of the name, "subtle" comes first and "Dharma" comes second; because the explanation follows the convenience of the meaning, "Dharma" comes first and "subtle" comes second. Although there is a prior and a posterior, they do not contradict each other (and so forth).