“Division of a Pair into Four Parts”

The principle of “division of a pair into four parts” (niso shija-han) is explained in the Venerable Master’s Kyogyoshinsho and Gutoku-sho (Notes of the Short-Haired One). The niso of niso shiju-han, is a division of Buddha-dharma into “transcendent” (fast or quick) and “gradual” (slow).

The shija of niso shija-han is written with the kanji characters for “four” (shi) and “parts” (ja). It points out that the “transcendence” of niso is further divided into “crosswise” and “vertical,” and that the “gradual” is also divided into the same “crosswise” and “vertical,” as shown in the following:

“Crosswise” refers to the “‘easy practice’ (igyo) of ‘Buddha-centered power’” of the Pure Land Path.
“Vertical” refers to the “‘difficult practice’ (nangyo) of ‘self-centered effort’” in the Path of Sages.

Broadly speaking, all of Buddha-dharma can be divided into the following four categories of teachings:

• “Self-centered effort” (jiriki).
• “Buddha-centered power” (tariki).
• “Abrupt enlightenment” (tongyo).
• “Gradual enlightenment” (zengyo).

“Crosswise Transcendent” (ocho) in the above chart is the “abrupt enlightenment” teaching within the “Buddha-centered power” teaching. It is the teaching of “absolute ‘Buddha-centered power’” (zettai tariki) based on the 18th Vow that is the foundation of the Jodo-Shinshu teaching.

“Vertical Transcendent” (shucho) on the other hand, is the “abrupt enlightenment” teaching within the “self-centered effort” teaching, and is the basis of the Kegon, Tendai, Shingon and Zen schools of Buddha-dharma.

Further, “crosswise gradual” (o-shutsu) is the “gradual enlightenment” teaching within the “Buddha-centered power” teaching that is the basis of the 19th (called the Essential Vow) and 20th (called the True Vow) Vows, which have not yet reached the state of being “absolute ‘Buddha-centered power’” as is the 18th Vow.

“Vertical gradual” (shushutsu) is the “gradual enlightenment” teaching within the “self-centered effort” teaching, and is the basis of the Hosso and Sanron schools of Buddha-dharma.

In the part of the Gutoku-sho (Notes by the Short-Haired One) where the Venerable Master discusses “division of a pair into four parts,” he points out that aside from the “crosswise transcendent” teaching of “absolute ‘Buddha-centered power’” based on the 18th Vow, all other teachings are “expedient teachings.”