法華義疏 2.3

2.3

From "At that time the World-Honoured One was surrounded by the fourfold assembly" down is the second [major section], clarifying the preface of development, which also has six sections: 1. the preface of the assembly's gathering; 2. the preface of preaching the sūtra; 3. the preface of entering samādhi; 4. the preface of manifesting auspicious signs; 5. the preface of raising doubts; 6. the preface of answering questions. Together with the preceding preface verifying faith, they make twelve prefaces in total. Because the assembly gathers, the sūtra is preached; because the sūtra is preached, he enters samādhi; because he enters samādhi, auspicious signs are manifested; because the signs are not understood, doubts arise; because there are doubts, they must be answered; because these six matters develop the main body of the text, it is called the preface of development. Therefore the later text says: "Now the Buddha emits a bright light to help develop the meaning of the true mark."