Chih-i summarizes different types of cause and effect as an indication of one’s religious progress of attaining the Ultimate Truth. This is to first examine various levels of practice in terms of the cause and effect, which are distinguished as either cause or effect. According to Chih-i, the Ten Dwellings are the cause in relation to the Ten Practices, and the Ten Practices are the effect. The Ten Practices are the cause in relation to the Ten Merit-transferences, and the Ten Merit-transferences are the effect. The Ten Merit-transferences are the cause in relation to the Ten Stages, and the Ten Stages are the effect. The Ten Stages are the cause in relation to the Stage of Preliminary Enlightenment, and the Stage of Preliminary Enlightenment is the effect. The Stage of Preliminary Enlightenment is the cause in relation to the Stage of Subtle Enlightenment, and the Stage of Subtle Enlightenment is the effect. (Vol. 2, Page 440-441)