This concept is best typified in the theory “nature embraces the Ultimate Truth” (Hsing-chü Shih-hsiang). “Nature” refers to suchness of things, which is termed by Chih-i as the Dharma-nature, i.e., the Ultimate Truth. The Ultimate Truth is characterized by the Ten Suchnesses in each of the Ten Dharma-realms. Specifically speaking, “nature embraces the Ultimate Truth” means “one instant thought containing three thousand dharmas” (I-nien San-ch ‘ien). How is this possible? This is because the ten realms (along with the Ten Suchnesses) are inseparable among each other. Any one of the ten realms simultaneously contains the other nine realms. For instance, the realm of the underworld contains the realms of hungry ghosts, animals, asuras, humans, heavenly beings, śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattvas and Buddhas. With the ten realms penetrating each other, this adds up to one hundred realms. Since each realm has Ten Suchnesses, the one hundred realms embrace one thousand suchnesses. If we multiply one thousand suchnesses with the three divisions of the universe (living beings, the five aggregates, and the space we live in), there are total number of three thousand dharmas.

This all-embracing theory reveals that the Ultimate Truth does not limit itself to any domain, but instantaneously confirms all existing things in the universe. Macrocosmically speaking, the Ultimate Truth permeates the whole universe; microcosmically speaking, it is embedded in any entity or any moment of consciousness. Therefore, there is no hindrance or limitation between the parts and the whole. Any entity is a representation of the whole, and the whole is embodied by any of its parts. (Page 139)