維摩經玄疏 3.56

3.56

Third, in clarifying the doctrine by four tenets, if compared to [theories of] ancient and modern times, it is indeed rich and broad. Yet when viewed from the perspective of our lineage, in comprehending the intention of the Buddha's Dharma it still has major omissions. Now, drawing from various sūtras and treatises, we establish the doctrine of the four teachings: each teaching has four gates, and the four teachings together have sixteen gates, which constitute sixteen tenets clarifying the doctrine. Those two tenets of causes and conditions and nominal designation correspond to the two gates of existence and emptiness clarified here in the Tripiṭaka teaching, but they still lack the Kunle gate and the gate of neither-existence-nor-emptiness. Their tenet of the non-true elucidates being like an illusion or transformation, which corresponds to the existence gate of this shared teaching, while its remaining three gates are left unexplained by them. Their tenet of the true corresponds to the existence gate of this distinctive teaching, while the other three gates are left unexplained by them. Thus, the four tenets in clarifying the doctrine can only correspond to four gates across three teachings; the four gates of the perfect teaching are left unexplained by them. Across the four teachings there are still twelve gates that are unexplained by those four tenets. Furthermore, Dharma Master Hushen used five tenets to clarify the doctrine: the four tenets are as before, and he additionally established the tenet of the dharmadhātu, which corresponds to the existence gate of this perfect teaching; yet across the four teachings there are still eleven gates left unexplained by him. Dharma Master Qishe used six tenets to clarify the doctrine: three tenets correspond to these three gates as distinguished above; their tenet of the true corresponds to the emptiness gate of this shared teaching; their tenet of the permanent corresponds to the existence gate of this distinctive teaching; their tenet of the perfect corresponds to the existence gate of this perfect teaching. Across these four teachings there are still ten gates unexplained by those six tenets. Therefore, we know that although the four tenets, five tenets, and six tenets are said since ancient and modern times to clarify the doctrine richly and broadly, when viewed from our lineage's perspective, in comprehending the gates of the Buddha's teaching they still have omissions.