Chih-i categorized the maturation of man’s faculties and subsequent enlightenment in three stages. First, the karmic seeds connecting a person to Buddhism had to be planted (geshu). Although everyone possessed the Buddha-nature, a person first had to be exposed to the Buddha’s teachings in order to begin to realize this basic truth. He had to listen to elementary teachings which gradually drew him on to more profound teachings until his faculties matured (jōjuku). In the second stage, his faculties had matured and he was ready to hear the Buddha’s ultimate teaching, the Lotus Sūtra. Finally, in the last stage, the process was completed; freed (gedatsu) from his sufferings, he had achieved perfect enlightenment. For Chih-i this system was to be applied on an individual basis. One person might be at an advanced stage, while his neighbor might be at a lower stage.