法界次第初門 3.20

3.20

The reason the four reliances are explained next after the six pāramitās is that the bodhisattva, having wished to learn the correct practice of the six pāramitās, finds that practice does not stand alone; it must have that upon which it relies in order to achieve completion. If the reliance is correct, one then possesses correct practice and is able to reach bodhi; if the reliance is corrupt, one then falls into corrupt paths. Therefore, after the six pāramitās, the four reliances are clarified. The reason these four are collectively called 'reliances' (yī) is that they are bases of reliance. Relying upon these four dharmas can accomplish the cause of the myriad practices of the pāramitās and fulfill the buddha-fruit of bodhi; hence they are called 'reliances'.