Deducing from the statement that the Ten Dharma-realms are the manifestation of True Reality and each realm includes the other nine realms, it can be said that True Reality includes both good and evil. The evil aspect of True Reality can be, according to Chih-i’s point of view, categorized by the Threefold Course of Ignorance, referring to the nature and appearance of affliction, evil karman, and the course of suffering. Since evil and good exist simultaneously constituting the True Reality, the Threefold Track can be regarded as the representation of the good aspect. Since evil and good are one entity, the Threefold Course of Ignorance and the Threefold Track are different aspects of the same thing. If the concealment of evil indicates the manifestation of good, then the transformation of the three types of evil nature and appearance denotes the manifestation of the three types of good nature and appearance.

For this reason, Chih-i argues that the nature and appearance of affliction is identical to the nature and appearance of the Track of the Illumination of Wisdom. The cause for the rising of ignorance lies in lack of wisdom. Understanding ignorance as the cause of suffering gives rise to one’s wisdom. Apparently, wisdom stems from ignorance; without ignorance, there is no such thing as wisdom. As Chih-i states: “Wisdom is not a separate entity apart from ignorance, just as ice and water are identical to each other.” (Vol. 2, Page 254)