Profound

Ten Suchnesses Describe Characteristics of Ten Dharma-Realms

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Chih-i regards the Ten Suchnesses that describe the characteristics of the Ten Dharma-realms as the beginning of the Threefold Track, since the Ten Suchnesses of each realm can be defined by the Threefold Track.

  1. “Suchness of appearance” is the external state of being and refers to one’s meritorious deeds embodied by the Track of Accomplishment.
  3. “Suchness of nature” is the internal and unchangeable state of being and belongs to the Track of the Illumination of Wisdom.
  4. “Suchness of substance” refers to the principal quality that consists of both external and internal state of beings and belongs to the Track of Real Nature.
  5. “Suchness of power” refers to the potential capability the substance is endowed with, which is the Understanding Cause of Buddhahood, and belongs to the Track of the Illumination of Wisdom.
  6. “Suchness of function” refers to that which constructs, and belongs the practice embodied by the Track of Accomplishment.
  7. “Suchness of causes” is the cause that brings about effect similar to itself, i.e., repetitive cause (His-yin or T’ung-lei-yin, Skt., vipākahetu), and belongs to the Track of the Illumination of Wisdom.
  8. “Suchness of conditions,” which refers to indirect or conditional causes belongs to the Track of Accomplishment.
  9. “Suchness of effects” refers to the effects that are the same as their causes, i.e., repetitive effect (Hsi-kuo or Teng-liu-kuo, Skt., niṣyandaphala), which results from the combination of causes and conditions, and belongs to the Track of the Illumination of Wisdom.
  10. “Suchness of retributions” refers to the effects resulting from the deeds one has done in the past incarnation, i.e., repetitive retribution (Hsi-pao) and belongs to the Track of Accomplishment.
  11. “Suchness of beginning-and-end-ultimately-alike” means that the “appearance” at the very beginning and the “retribution” at the end are ultimately alike and are converged into the same True Reality.

This tenth category of Suchness functions as the conclusion embracing all dharmas. (Vol. 2, Page 253)

The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra: Tien-tai Philosophy of Buddhism