大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 20.2

20.2

Section 7: Praising and Extolling Virtues. First, stating the heading, which has two parts: First, in contrast to the titles of the ten sections, it praises and extols the virtues of the Fundamental Teacher. Second, when it says "it is also the launching preface," this is in contrast to the tripartite division of the sūtra into introductory, central doctrine, and transmission sections. The first chapter is the introduction, which conventionally is divided into two: first, certifying faith; second, launching. Now, the previous six sections are all considered certifying faith, and the following four sections together constitute the launching. Praising launches the Buddha's virtues; bringing forth the assembly reveals the Buddha's function. The actual launching in the Great Sūtra is different: ancient masters merely used auspicious omens of heaven and earth as the launching.