The Four Doctrines

Chih-I's explanation of the four progressively deeper understandings of spiritual truth.

The Four Doctrines:

1. The Doctrine of the Three Baskets (Tripitaka, or 'Three Baskets' Doctrine), named after the early division of the Buddhist canon into three parts or ‘baskets’ - the Sutra (words of the Buddha), the Vinaya (the disciplinary rules) and the Abhidharma (analysis of the teachings). This Doctrine of the Three Baskets explains causality, that is, karma (good and evil deeds) and retribution, and the Arhat’s ultimate freedom from this endless cycle of life & death (Samsara) in the extinction of Nirvana. This is the doctrine of exclusive reliance on the two vehicles; the vehicle of the spiritual disciples (sravakas) and those that attain their own spiritual self-awakening (pratyekabuddhas). This is the simplest understanding of the Dharma; the Realm of Life & Death is self & existence whereas Nirvana is selflessness and non-existence. These matters are seen in black & white, without shades of gray. This doctrine is also called The Doctrine of Birth & Extinction, with 'Birth' referring to Samsara and 'Extinction' referring to Nirvana.
    
2. The General Doctrine (or the ‘Common’ Doctrine), so called because it applies generally to those of all of the three vehicles; spiritual disciples (sravakas) those that attain their own spiritual self-awakening (pratyekabuddhas), and bodhisattvas. This is the doctrine of emptiness (sunyata) in which one transcends the duality of karma & retribution, Life & Death and Nirvana, self and selflessness, existence & non-existence and all the apparent dualities and contradictions. All aspects of reality (dharmas) are empty of self-existence, that is they are without birth or extinction and therefore one is without attachment to any of them. All material things, all feelings, all thoughts, and all elements of reality only exist temporarily as a result of causality and conditions and their independent ‘self’ existence is but an illusion. Emptiness is the great dialectical process of ever transcending the limitations of aspects and transcending the limitations of our understanding of the great all-inclusive Nirvana. This doctrine about emptiness is also called The Doctrine Without Birth (or Extinction).
    
3. The Specific Doctrine (or the ‘Distinct’ Doctrine), so called because it is specifically for the Bodhisattvas. This is the doctrine of not merely transcending the duality of Life & Death and Nirvana, but understanding the correct relationship between them. Emptiness and existence, self and selflessness, Life & Death and Nirvana, and all the different aspects of reality (dharmas) are that which is temporary and provisional. Being 'provisional' means that they are to be used and then be discarded in service to the Buddha, that is, to enlighten living beings. In other words, they are the Buddha's 'provisions', that which the Buddha uses and discards in the work of enlightenment. With an understanding of emptiness the Bodhisattva reenters the temporary realm of Life & Death with compassion to bring joy, emancipation and enlightenment to those living beings that suffer with attachments in the darkness. The Bodhisattva must learn of the limitless different desires, natures, and capacities of living beings and the countless way and means to adapt the Dharma to help liberate and enlighten them. This is a higher level of the dialectical process than merely transcending dualities. Therefore this doctrine is also called The Limitless Doctrine.
    
4. The Total Doctrine (or the ‘Perfect’ Doctrine); This is the ultimate teaching of The Lotus Sutra, revealing the purpose for the Buddha’s appearance in this world. This is the Buddha’s will or purpose, which is beyond all provisions, practices, doctrines, persons, etc. The provisions are all utilized and then discarded on order to reveal the reality. The manifestations are all utilized and then discarded to reveal the source. This ultimate purpose is the True Spiritual Aspect of Reality, the absolute in the mundane, the divine in the ordinary. It is the work of the One Vehicle, which is to bring out this one enlightenment in all living beings. Therefore this doctrine is also called The Innate Doctrine.

 All four of these doctrines are spiritual truths.

1. There is karma & retribution. (Causality)
2. There is transcendence. (Emptiness)
3. All things can be used and discarded in the work of enlightenment. (That which is temporary & provisional)
4. There is only one true purpose for the appearance of the Buddha in this world. (The middle way)

Chih-I frequently uses a quote from Nagarjuna's Discourse of the Mean (S. Mula-Madhyamika-Karika, C. Chung-Lun, J. Chu-Ron) to summarize these four doctrines:

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