金光明經文句記 1.31

1.31

二、「次緒」下，釋三義。緒，謂繭之緒也。凡繭之抽絲，先抽其緒，緒盡方見其絲。今以五事在初，如絲之緒也。冠，去聲呼。敘方將述當益，蓋言敘述當時有正宗、流通之益，故此序述下一十七品也。發，謂開發物機之信也。起，謂興起聖應之教也。此序即以現瑞駭動物情，令信心顒顒，教必深益。

Second, from "Beginning end" onward, explicating the three meanings. "Xu" refers to the end of a cocoon's thread. Whenever pulling silk from a cocoon, one first pulls its end; only when the end is unwound does one see its silk. Now, having the five matters at the beginning is like the end of the silk. "Guan" is pronounced in the departing tone. "Narrating what is about to come, relating the forthcoming benefit": this means narrating the benefit of the main body and transmission that will be present at that time; hence this preface narrates the following seventeen chapters. "Initiating" (fa) means developing the faith of living beings' capacities. "Arising" (qi) means giving rise to the holy response of the teaching. This preface, by manifesting auspicious signs, startles and stirs the feelings of living beings, causing their faithful minds to be reverent and expectant, so that the teaching will certainly bring profound benefit.