觀無量壽佛經義疏 2.6

2.6

First, the preface section is twofold: From the beginning up to 'serving as the leaders' is called the preface testifying to faith; because six matters together attest to it, it causes there to be no doubt. From 'At that time, in Rājagṛha' downward is called the preface of origination; because the Dharma does not arise alone, it is initiated through conditions. They are also called the common and specific prefaces: testifying to faith is common to all scriptures, while origination is specific to the present sūtra. Furthermore, the text of testifying to faith is common while its meaning is specific, for dharmas such as 'thus' refer exclusively to the present sūtra; the text of origination is specific while its meaning is common, for the beginning of every sūtra has causes and conditions. In addition, because testifying to faith was only established at the compilation, it is called the post-sūtra preface.