For Chih-i, Buddhism consists of the cause and effect of Buddhahood. Looking at the cause and effect separately, the cause of Buddhahood concerns the Buddha’s self-cultivation of striving for Buddhahood, and the effect of Buddhahood concerns the Buddha’s activity of transforming others as the result of his attainment of Buddhahood. Hence, the Origin is considered by Chih-i as the cause of Buddhahood, and the Traces the effect of Buddhahood. However, Chih-i emphasizes that true reality is of no distinction between cause and effect. The cause and effect are contained in each other. The cause decides the realization of effect, and the effect is the manifestation of the cause. Since cause and effect are identical, the cause and effect of Buddhahood are complete in both the Origin and the Traces. (Vol. 2, Page 400-401)