維摩經略疏 2.35

2.35

問：何故勝應為近由、劣應為遠由？答：勝應是即座說《普集經》，由此現瑞，故是近由。劣應是昔說小教之身，遠為由籍，故是遠也。

Question: Why is the superior response the immediate reason and the inferior response the remote reason? Answer: The superior response occurred right at that seat when preaching the Gathering of All Sūtra, which led to the manifestation of this miraculous sign; therefore it is the immediate reason. The inferior response was his body when preaching the lesser teaching in the past, serving as the distant basis; therefore it is remote.