The foremost important principles in Buddhism are Teaching, Practice, and Principle. Coincidentally, they are identical with the first three categories of the Subtlety in the Traces respectively, i.e., Objects, Knowledge, and Practice. The three categories of the principle in Buddhism indicate a gradual progression in religious practice. One must first acquire the teaching of the Buddha. With the teaching, one practices accordingly. With the practice, one finally realizes the Principle (i.e., attains the Path). In this gradual order, the three perspectives are three separate entities, and they do not interact with each other. In Chih-i’s system, however, the order is from the top down, that is, Objects as truth or Principle stand high on the list, because Objects as truth is the cause for knowledge to become perfect. Knowledge concerns Objects, and therefore, one must acquire Knowledge to penetrate Objects. How can one attain knowledge? Practice is the tool that allows one to reach the goal. In this order, the three perspectives penetrate each other and become one merged entity.