Buddhist Paths of Practice

Read the six levels from bottom to top: principle, name, practice, resemblance, partial realization and ultimate realization. The comparisons below the tower are approximate, rather than exact equivalents across the four teachings.

Begin with the six identities. Cross-teaching matches in the artwork are approximate; use the comparison above for the distinctions.

理即佛 · Identity in principle

Inherent principle, before understanding

In the Perfect teaching, all beings possess the inconceivable principle. “Identity” expresses nonduality; “six” distinguishes depth of practice. Inherent Buddha nature is not completed realization.

名字即佛 · Identity in name

Understanding through the teaching

One hears and understands the teaching of the middle. Knowing terminology alone does not establish direct realization.

观行即佛 · Identity in practice

Five grades · outer ordinary stage

The five grades are rejoicing, reading and reciting, explaining, additionally practicing the six perfections, and making them the principal practice. Afflictions are subdued; other teachings provide approximate comparisons.

相似即佛 · Identity in resemblance

Ten faiths · inner ordinary stage

The ten faiths purify the six faculties. They progressively remove errors of view, thought and knowledge, while subduing ignorance. Partial realization of the Dharma body has yet to begin.

分证即佛 · Identity in partial realization

First abode through equal awakening · 41 stages

At the first abode, a portion of ignorance is removed and the Dharma body is partially realized. The ten abodes, practices, dedications and grounds, plus equal awakening, form 41 stages. Distinct teaching realization begins at the first ground; identical stage names are not equivalent.

究竟即佛 · Identity in ultimate realization

Perfect teaching: wondrous awakening

Wondrous awakening in the Perfect teaching is ultimate realization. A shared destination illustrates convergence into the Perfect Buddha vehicle. Within the separate doctrinal systems, Distinct wondrous awakening corresponds only to a partial realization stage in the Perfect teaching.

Read left to right: inherent Buddha nature, understanding through hearing the teaching, and putting that understanding into practice. The five grades belong to the Perfect teaching; Distinct ten faiths provide a comparison of depth, rather than an identical practice.

The first three identities move from principle through understanding into practice. Perfect five grades can be compared with Distinct ten faiths, while their doctrines and contemplations differ.

理即佛 · Identity in principle

Inherent principle, before understanding

In the Perfect teaching, all beings possess the inconceivable principle. “Identity” expresses nonduality; “six” distinguishes depth of practice. Inherent Buddha nature is not completed realization.

名字即佛 · Identity in name

Understanding through the teaching

One hears and understands the teaching of the middle. Knowing terminology alone does not establish direct realization.

观行即佛 · Identity in practice

Five grades · outer ordinary stage

The five grades are rejoicing, reading and reciting, explaining, additionally practicing the six perfections, and making them the principal practice. Afflictions are subdued; other teachings provide approximate comparisons.

The three lower panels refer to Perfect ten faiths, the Distinct three groups of worthy stages (ten abodes, ten practices and ten dedications), and the artwork’s shorthand “lesser vehicle” label. These are comparisons of depth. Both Tripiṭaka and Shared teachings also include bodhisattvas.

Compare Perfect ten faiths and Distinct preparatory stages by afflictions removed. The artwork’s “lesser vehicle” label is shorthand: both Tripiṭaka and Shared teachings include bodhisattvas.

相似即佛 · Identity in resemblance

Ten faiths · inner ordinary stage

The ten faiths purify the six faculties. They progressively remove errors of view, thought and knowledge, while subduing ignorance. Partial realization of the Dharma body has yet to begin.

The left panel begins with the first Distinct ground; the right begins with the first Perfect abode. On the right, read the sequence: first abode → ten abodes → ten practices → ten dedications → ten grounds → equal awakening. Identically named stages in the two teachings cannot all be aligned directly.

Partial realization begins at the first Perfect abode and first Distinct ground. The same names for subsequent groups do not make all stages equivalent.

分证即佛 · Identity in partial realization

First abode through equal awakening · 41 stages

At the first abode, a portion of ignorance is removed and the Dharma body is partially realized. The ten abodes, practices, dedications and grounds, plus equal awakening, form 41 stages. Distinct teaching realization begins at the first ground; identical stage names are not equivalent.

The two stairways depict sequential practice in the Distinct teaching and integrated practice in the Perfect teaching. Their shared destination represents convergence into the Buddha vehicle. In doctrinal comparison, Distinct wondrous awakening corresponds to the second Perfect practice, within partial realization; it is not directly identical to Perfect ultimate realization.

The common destination illustrates convergence. In the doctrinal comparison of the Outline, Distinct wondrous awakening corresponds to the second Perfect practice, within partial realization. Ultimate unity is expressed through convergence into the Perfect teaching.

分证即佛 · Identity in partial realization

First abode through equal awakening · 41 stages

At the first abode, a portion of ignorance is removed and the Dharma body is partially realized. The ten abodes, practices, dedications and grounds, plus equal awakening, form 41 stages. Distinct teaching realization begins at the first ground; identical stage names are not equivalent.

究竟即佛 · Identity in ultimate realization

Perfect teaching: wondrous awakening

Wondrous awakening in the Perfect teaching is ultimate realization. A shared destination illustrates convergence into the Perfect Buddha vehicle. Within the separate doctrinal systems, Distinct wondrous awakening corresponds only to a partial realization stage in the Perfect teaching.

Read columns as the six identities and rows as Perfect, Distinct, Shared and Tripiṭaka teachings. The source artwork contains simplified comparisons and an editorial note about Excel; it is a study illustration. Use the textual table below to distinguish each teaching’s own stages. The journey symbols at the bottom refer to the conjured city and treasure destination in the Lotus Sutra; they are illustrations, not a scale of equivalent attainment.

The supplied comprehensive chart is preserved for study. It contains design notes and simplified comparisons. Read it alongside both textual views above rather than as a precise doctrinal equivalence table.

理即佛 · Identity in principle

Inherent principle, before understanding

In the Perfect teaching, all beings possess the inconceivable principle. “Identity” expresses nonduality; “six” distinguishes depth of practice. Inherent Buddha nature is not completed realization.

名字即佛 · Identity in name

Understanding through the teaching

One hears and understands the teaching of the middle. Knowing terminology alone does not establish direct realization.

观行即佛 · Identity in practice

Five grades · outer ordinary stage

The five grades are rejoicing, reading and reciting, explaining, additionally practicing the six perfections, and making them the principal practice. Afflictions are subdued; other teachings provide approximate comparisons.

相似即佛 · Identity in resemblance

Ten faiths · inner ordinary stage

The ten faiths purify the six faculties. They progressively remove errors of view, thought and knowledge, while subduing ignorance. Partial realization of the Dharma body has yet to begin.

分证即佛 · Identity in partial realization

First abode through equal awakening · 41 stages

At the first abode, a portion of ignorance is removed and the Dharma body is partially realized. The ten abodes, practices, dedications and grounds, plus equal awakening, form 41 stages. Distinct teaching realization begins at the first ground; identical stage names are not equivalent.

究竟即佛 · Identity in ultimate realization

Perfect teaching: wondrous awakening

Wondrous awakening in the Perfect teaching is ultimate realization. A shared destination illustrates convergence into the Perfect Buddha vehicle. Within the separate doctrinal systems, Distinct wondrous awakening corresponds only to a partial realization stage in the Perfect teaching.