四教義 3.2

3.2

The third major section explains entering principle through the four gates: When one investigates the principle of true nature and real mark, it is profound, subtle, marvelous, and transcendent, such that none in the entire world can fail to accord with it. Yet it is only because the Great Sage clearly illuminated the gates that penetrate to principle, and thereupon accorded with conditions regarding the ineffable principle, that he used teachings as gates. For this reason, disciples who receive the teachings accord with principle by means of the gates. Thus the Lotus Sūtra says: 'By means of the gate of the Buddha's teaching, they escape the suffering of the triple realm.' It also says: 'The gate of his wisdom is difficult to understand and difficult to enter.' The Vimalakīrti Sūtra's explanation of how various bodhisattvas each spoke of entering the dharma-gate of non-duality has the same import. Now I will briefly explain this through five points: first, briefly distinguishing the characteristics of the four gates; second, directly explaining entering principle through the four gates; third, explaining the four siddhāntas generating the teachings of the four gates; fourth, presenting the meaning of the four gates in terms of ten dharmas; fifth, explaining the differences of the four gates between the two practices of faith and dharma.