These five types of polarity are Chih-i’s summarization of various aspects of the teaching of the Buddha.

1. The polar concept “phenomenon and noumenon” can summarize the doctrinal aspect of Buddhism, for the doctrines expounded by the Buddha center on phenomenon as the Worldly Truth and noumenon as the Absolute Truth.
2. The polar concept, “teaching and practice”, can summarize the major components that constitute Buddhism, for Buddhism is about the teaching of the Buddha and one’s practice of attaining liberation according to the teaching.
3. The polar concept, “cause and effect”, can summarize the nature of Buddhism}for Buddhism concerns nothing else but the practice for attaining enlightenment as the cause and the attainment of enlightenment as the effect.
4. The polar concept, “self-cultivation and transforming others”, can summarize the functional aspect of Buddhism, for self-cultivation is the knowledge of penetrating the truth, and transforming others is the knowledge of benefiting others.
5. The polar concept, “speech and silence”, can summarize the methods of the Buddha’s teaching, for both speech and silence are for t!le purpose of teaching and transforming others.

Since these five types of polarity reveal different aspects of Buddhism, together, they represent Buddhism as a whole, and therefore, are related more or less to each of the Five Sections. (Vol. 2, Page 27)