淨名玄論 7.5

7.5

江南舊釋，以室內外分經為三。初有四品，在室外說，名為序分；中間六品，室內說之，名為正經；後之四品，還歸室外，名為流通。所以然者，淨名託病方丈，念待激揚。前之四品，但敘如來說法述德命人，為問疾由致，故稱為序。中間六品，在於室內始談妙法，目之為正說。後之四品，利物已周，還來佛所印定成經，故稱流通。

The former interpreters of Jiangnan divided the sūtra into three based on being inside or outside the room. The initial four chapters, preached outside the room, are termed the introductory section; the middle six chapters, preached inside the room, are termed the main body of the sūtra; the concluding four chapters, returning outside the room, are termed the dissemination section. The reason for this is that Vimalakīrti feigned illness in his ten-foot-square room, intending and awaiting an exchange. The preceding four chapters merely recount the Tathāgata preaching the Dharma, recounting virtues, and commissioning people to inquire about the illness; hence they are called the introduction. The middle six chapters, beginning the discourse on the wonderful Dharma inside the room, are designated as the main teaching. The concluding four chapters, the benefit to beings having been accomplished, return to the Buddha's place to seal and confirm the sūtra; hence they are called dissemination.