It is not until the beginning of Chapter II before the Buddha actually begins to speak. Here too we might miss the message not directly mentioned. … The message for the readers of the sutra is this teaching the Buddha is about to expound is a teaching of the Buddha’s mind. When the Buddha previously taught he did so in response to a question. He did not teach without being prompted by someone. In those situations the Buddha is said to have been teaching according to the mind of the listener, or according to the mind of the person asking the question.

This is very important to understand: When the Buddha responded to a question he only gave what the questioner asked for, so he was limiting his teachings based upon what he was asked. In this teaching he is going to tell the congregation what his deepest understanding is without the limitations of the listener.