The common doctrine teaches the transition from the Hinayāna to the Mahāyāna. It connects the previous tripiṭaka teaching with the later distinct and perfect doctrines. This is why it is called the common doctrine. It is the beginning of the Mahāyāna teaching of the emptiness of all things. The tripiṭaka explains emptiness only through analyzing all phenomena, or dharmas. Therefore, it is called “contemplating emptiness through analysis.”

The common doctrine explains emptiness by directly experiencing phenomena. Therefore, it is called “contemplating emptiness embodied in phenomena.” The tripiṭaka doctrine used the contemplation of emptiness through analysis to consider all existences of the triple world and realize their emptiness. The common doctrine uses the contemplation of the emptiness embodied in phenomena to negate all existences by realizing that all phenomena are illusions resulting from delusion.