Digital Dictionary of Buddhism

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四法

Pronunciations

Basic Meaning: four dharmas

Senses:

  • Four sets of practices, or teachings, which vary according to the text. In the Yogâcārabhūmi-śāstra these are four general divisions for the orientation of the practices of the bodhisattvas:
    1. 善修事業 activities of wholesome [self-]cultivation
    2. 方便善巧 usage of skillful means
    3. 饒益於他 working toward the improvement of the situation of others
    4. 無倒迴向 faultless dedication of merit
    〔瑜伽論 T 1579.30.551b14〕 (Skt. catvāro dharmāḥ, caturvidhā dharmāḥ, catur-vidha, catuṣ-koṭika, catuṣ-koṭikā, catuṣṭaya) [Charles Muller; source(s): Ui ,Nakamura, Hirakawa]
  • Another set of four attainments for bodhisattvas listed by Ui are: (1) not abandoning the bodhi mind 不捨菩提心; (2) not abandoning spiritual teachers 不捨善知識; (3) not abandoning patience and delight 不捨堪忍愛樂; (4) not abandoning the forest 不捨阿練若. [Charles Muller; source(s): Ui]
  • Four qualities of bodhisattvas taught in the Questions of Prince Candraprabha:
    1. to learn to be gentle and calm with those with whom you live, to have self-control, to endure the insults of others, and to relinquish pride in seeing the Dharma 善學柔軟同住安隱
    2. to perfect moral discipline 成就善戒淸淨戒
    3. to feel profound fear of the three realms of existence, to feel revulsion toward the three realms, and to not give rise to defilement 三界起驚畏心。厭離三界起不染心
    4. be well learned, never tiring of seeking knowledge 求於多聞無有厭足 〔月燈三昧經 T 0639.15.0568c09〕
    [Charles Muller]
  • Soothill lists:
    1. 教法 the teaching of the Buddha;
    2. 理法 teaching of its principles, or meaning;
    3. 行法 its practice;
    4. 果法 its fruits or rewards.
    He also lists another group related to bodhisattvas, their never losing
    1. the bodhi-mind,
    2. the wisdom attained,
    3. perseverance in progress,
    4. or the monastic forest life (āraṇyaka).
    [Charles Muller]
  • Another group is 信解行證 faith, understanding, practice, and realization. [Charles Muller]
  • Soothill also lists a set from the True Pure Land school of Japan:
    1. 教法, i. e. the Sutra of Immeasurable Life 無量壽經;
    2. 行法 the practice of the seventeenth of Amitâbhaʼs vows;
    3. 信法 faith in the eighteenth; and
    4. 證法 proof of the eleventh. The most important work of Shinran, the founder of the school, is these four, i. e. 教行信證.
    There is also a 'Lotus' division of 四法 as the answer to a question of Samantabhadra how the Lotus is to be possessed after the Buddhaʼs demise, i. e. by thought (or protection) of the buddhas; the cultivation of virtue; entry into correct dhyāna; and having a mind to save all creatures. [Charles Muller]
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    [Dictionary References]

    Bukkyō jiten (Ui) 420

    Bulgyo sajeon 364a

    Zengaku daijiten (Komazawa U.) 462b

    Bukkyōgo daijiten (Nakamura) 531b

    Fo Guang Dictionary 1715

    Ding Fubao

    Buddhist Chinese-Sanskrit Dictionary (Hirakawa) 0280

    Bukkyō daijiten (Oda) 244-2-26*758-1

    (Soothill's) Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms 177

    Copyright provisions

    The rights to textual segments (nodes) of the DDB are owned by the author indicated in the brackets next to each segment. For rights regarding the compilation as a whole, please contact Charles Muller. Please do not reproduce without permission. And please do not copy into Wikipedia without proper citation!

    Entry created: 2002-03-09

    Updated: 2021-03-20