四法

Readings

Pinyin: sìfǎ

Wade-Giles: ssu-fa

Hangul: 사법

Korean MC: sabeop

Korean MR: sabŏp

Katakana: シホウ

Hepburn: shihō

tứ pháp

four dharmas

• 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 skilful 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) [resp. cmuller; source(s): Nakamura, Hirakawa]
• 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).
  [resp. cmuller]
• Another group is 信解行證 faith, understanding, practice, and realization. [resp. cmuller]
• 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 Amitâbha's 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 sect, 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 Buddha's 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. [resp. cmuller]

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 © 2010 -- Charles Muller

generated: 2013-03-13