維摩經略疏 1.52

1.52

Question: Since there are preface and main teaching [sections], how can one use the main teaching to label the first chapter? Answer: This question is incorrect. Supposing that 'Preface' were used as the proper title, one might again ask why the main teaching was not used. Our explanation now is: there are precedents for this. For example, in the Mahāprajñā[-pāramitā Sūtra], the first half of the chapter is the preface, and from 'Addressing Śāriputra' onward, the latter half is the main teaching, yet what harm is there in using 'Preface' to label the chapter? If one does not permit this sūtra's preface to receive the name of the main teaching, one should likewise not permit that sūtra's main teaching to use 'Preface' to label the chapter.