Four guidelines
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four guidelines
四釈・四種釈 (Jpn shi-shaku or shishu-shaku )
Four guidelines or standpoints for interpreting the words and phrases of the Lotus Sutra.
They are causes and conditions, correlated teachings, the theoretical and essential teachings, and the observation of the mind. T'ient'ai (538-597) employed these four guidelines in The Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra.
Causes and conditions means to interpret the words and phrases of the sutra in terms of the causes and conditions that prompted the Buddha to expound them, and to grasp them in terms of the four ways of preaching.
Correlated teachings means to interpret the sutra's words and phrases from the standpoint of the four teachings of doctrine and the five periods.
The theoretical and essential teachings means to interpret them in light of the theoretical teaching (first half) and the essential teaching (latter half) of the sutra.
The observation of the mind means to perceive the truth within one's own mind through the practice of meditation and also to interpret the words and phrases of the sutra from the standpoint of this perception of the truth.