The characteristics of the Ten Suchnesses are defined in the group with wholesome destinies

The meaning of the Ten Suchnesses with regard to the second group of humans and heavenly beings (Jen T’ien) is defined by Chih-i as a white color, which signifies purity, pleasure, and goodness. These are different from those in the … four lowest states. “Appearance” is related to revealing the good and pleasant perspective, by which the appearance of beings that are born as humankind and deities are pure and superior. “Nature” refers to white color as wholesomeness in contradistinction to beings in hell whose nature is black. “Substance” means that the intrinsic essence of oneself is related to the mind of pleasure. “Power” is associated with the potential capability to do wholesome deeds. “Function” is to refrain from committing evil deeds and to perform wholesome deeds. “Causes” refers to wholesome deeds. “Conditions” refers to the mistaken views regarding self and possessions that keep one continuing to be reborn into the world, but these views are considered to be wholesome in a worldly sense since they are the conditions of a rebirth into a good destiny. “Effects” is the natural outcome from a wholesome mind. “Retributions” refers to the joy one naturally experiences. The last suchness “beginning-and-end-ultimately-alike” means the same as in the … case of the four lowest states. (Vol. 2, Page 77)