通教

Tiantai classified Buddhist schools into four periods [lang id =1028]藏, [lang id =1028]通, [lang id =1028]別, and [lang id =1028]圓. The [lang id =1028]藏 Piṭaka school was that of Hīnayāna. The [lang id =1028]通Tong, interrelated or intermediate school, was the first stage of Mahāyāna, having in it elements of all the three vehicles, (sa) śrāvaka, (sa) pratyekabuddha, and bodhisattva. Its developing doctrine linked it with Hīnayāna on the one hand and on the other with the two further developments of the [lang id =1028]別 'separate', or 'differentiated' Mahāyāna teaching, and the [lang id =1028]圓 full-orbed, complete, or perfect Mahāyāna. The [lang id =1028]通教 held the doctrine of the Void, but had not arrived at the doctrine of the Mean.

* * *

謂通前藏教， 通後別、 圓， 故名通教。 （通前藏教者， 謂此教鈍根菩薩， 雖觀無生四諦， 但證真空之理， 與前藏教是同也。 通後別、 圓者， 謂此教利根菩薩， 證真空之理時， 能於真空， 了達不空， 即入後之別教。 若知空不空， 具一切法， 即入後之圓教也。 ）

* * *

共通的教法， 為天台所立化法四教之第二。 三乘人的根器雖然人人不同， 但是卻有許多共通的特性， 諸如通觀無生， 同證無學， 同出分段生死， 同入涅槃的化城等等， 故稱通教。