In every instance when a weakness appears in either faith, practice, or study the key to making things right again is to examine these three legs and then strengthen them. Buddhism rest upon this tripod of faith, practice, and study. … [A] tripod with it’s three legs is able to provide a level surface on any terrain no matter how bumpy or rocky. It would seem that four legs would be better, and sort of obvious one leg or two not good enough. But in fact three legs is the most stable configuration for achieving stability.