起信論疏筆削記 1.4

1.4

First, the title of the treatise and its commentary, in two [points]: First, as to indicating the title: because the title is the general outline of the entire work, one cannot but know it beforehand; therefore, one must briefly explain the five characters in the title, which can correspond to the fivefold profound meaning of Tiantai. Whenever Tiantai explains the title of a sūtra, it is based on five meanings: here, to say 'Mahā' (great) is the essence; 'yāna' (vehicle) is the central theme; 'śraddhotpāda' (awakening of faith) is the function; and 'śāstra' (treatise) is the teaching. What the treatise as a whole expresses is solely the essence, the central theme, and the function; by combining these five characters, this is then the name.