This is the last classification of the Five Sections in interpreting the Lotus Sūtra. Chih-i’s whole interpretation of the Lotus Sūtra concerns nothing else but the Ultimate Truth (or True Reality) that is addressed in the teaching of the Buddha. This indicates that the Five Sections Chih-i sets up to interpret the Lotus Sūtra reveal the teaching of the Buddha from five perspectives in terms of the name of the teaching, substance of the teaching, gist of the teaching, function of the teaching, and the characteristics of the teaching. The last section “classifying the characteristics of the teaching” serves to conclude Chih-i’s elaboration of the teaching of the Buddha and his interpretation of the Lotus Sūtra by providing an overview of the teaching. The Buddha’s teaching is classified by Chih-i into three kinds: sudden, gradual, and indeterminate. Chih-i stresses the significance of illustrating the teaching of the Buddha by stating that if one propagates the Lotus Sūtra without exposing the teaching, the meaning of the text would not be complete. (Page 453)