By comparing the Lotus Sūtra with other sūtras, three kinds of differences are made by Chih-i in terms of the knowledge that concerns the Relative Truth and the Ultimate Truth as follows:

1. From other sūtras, it is known that the Buddha obtained the knowledge that concerns the Ultimate Truth (Shih-chih) upon his enlightenment under the bodhi tree in his present lifetime. From then on, he started applying expedient means, i.e., the knowledge that concerns the Relative Truth (Ch’üan-chih), to teach and transform living beings. However, the Lotus Sūtra reveals the fact that the Buddha had already perfected his knowledge a long time ago, i.e., his original attainment of Buddhahood can be traced back to the incalculable past, and all his later activities are the manifestations derived from this original Buddhahood.
2. In other sūtras, disciples of the Two Vehicles (śrāvaka and pratyekabuddha) are excluded from entering the knowledge concerning the Ultimate Truth and from being able to implement the knowledge concerning the Relative Truth. In the Lotus Sūtra, however, it is made clear that in the past, the Lotus Sūtra was repeatedly expounded by the Buddhas, and that innumerable disciples of the Two Vehicles have already been benefited by the Lotus Sūtra. This is to say that they have long ago obtained the knowledge concerning the Ultimate Truth and have also understood the practice of applying the knowledge concerning the Relative Truth.
3. There is no single hint in other sūtras about the Buddha’s accomplishment of teaching and transforming living beings before his enlightenment under the bodhi tree, except in the Lotus Sūtra. The Lotus Sūtra reveals the fact that the Twofold Knowledge in terms of the Relative Truth and the Ultimate Truth (Ch’üan-shih Erh-chih) existed ever since the Buddha’s original attainment of Buddhahood long ago, with which the Buddha had already transformed countless bodhisattvas before his enlightenment in this lifetime. (Vol. 2, Page 23-24)