One may inquire: in what sense does the Threefold Track represent all dharmas? This should be viewed with regard to the three Subtleties (Objects as Truth, Knowledge, and Practice). In Chih-i’s system of understanding Buddhism, these three categories of Subtlety are most significant in outlining the elements required to strive for liberation. These three Subtleties are inseparable: truth as an object has to be perceived in attaining liberation; knowledge is required in order to penetrate truth; and actual practice is the means to attaining knowledge in reaching truth. Chih-i considers truth as substance (T’i), knowledge as gist (Tsung), and practice as function (Yung). All three of these elements are prerequisite for reaching liberation, and the Three Tracks are the representation of these three elements, given that the three Subtleties already signify the characteristics of the Three Tracks respectively. The Track of Real Nature, which concerns the true reality, represents the Subtlety of Objects; the Track of the Illumination of Wisdom, which concerns the knowledge of penetrating the true reality, represents the Subtlety of Knowledge; and the Track of Accomplishment, which concerns the practice of striving to obtain knowledge in penetrating reality, represents the Subtlety of Practice. Therefore, the first three Subtleties are considered by Chih-i to be the cause of attaining Buddhahood, and the Three Tracks the effect of Buddhahood. Although the three Subtleties are the cause, and the Three Tracks are the effect, the cause and effect are contained in each other: cause leads to effect, and effect arises from cause. Fundamentally, the cause and effect are one entity, and both are delineated by the Threefold Track.

What, then, is the distinction between the cause and effect that are named and presented separately? First, Chih-i points out, the three Subtleties that are taken as the Three Tracks can depict the cause of attaining enlightenment, and the One Buddha-vehicle that is formed by the Threefold Track is the effect of Buddhahood. Second, the three Subtleties Objects, Knowledge, and Practice are presented individually in order to describe the process of reaching enlightenment. The Threefold Track is discussed together as one unity in order to portray the effect as the One Buddha-vehicle. Third, the three Subtleties and Threefold Track illustrate respectively the beginning and end of one’s practice of reaching liberation. The three Subtleties are the Threefold Track in terms of virtue of nature (Hsing-te San-kui), and the Threefold Track is the Threefold Track in terms of virtue of cultivation (Hsiu-te San-kui). (Vol. 2, Page 241-242)