Explaining the formation of the Four Siddhāntas (Shih-ch’eng)

This is to explain that the formation of each of the Four Siddhāntas is different. The Worldly Siddhānta is formed in order to comply with what is enjoyed and desired (Sui-lo-yü) by people. The Siddhānta for Each Person is formed in order to comply with what is suitable to individuals (Sui-p’ien-i) and arouse their virtues. The Siddhānta of Counteraction is formed in order to deal with particular cases of individual sickness. The Siddhānta of the Supreme Truth is formed in order to transmit the Supreme Truth. According to Chih-i, each Siddhānta contains the Four Siddhāntas. In addition, the first Siddhānta (i.e., Worldly Siddhānta) embodies the beginning stage for living beings to strive for Buddhahood as the cause, and the last Siddhānta (i.e., Siddhānta of the Supreme Truth) embodies the final stage of attaining Buddhahood as the effect. (Vol. 2, Page 38)

The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra: Tien-tai Philosophy of Buddhism