There are several groups of four dharma: (1) 教法 the teaching of the Buddha); 理法 its principles, or meaning; 行法 its practice; 果法 its fruits or rewards. (2) Another group relates to bodhisattvas, their never losing the bodhi-mind, or the wisdom attained, or perseverance in progress, or the monastic forest life (āraṇyaka). (3) Also 信解行證 faith, discernment, performance, and assurance. (4) The Pure-land 'True' sect of Japan has a division: 教法, i. e. the 大無量壽經; 行法 the practice of the seventeenth of Amitābha's vows; 信法 faith in the eighteenth; and 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. (5) A 'Lotus ' division of 四法 is the answer to a question of Puxian (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.
１．指法寶中的四法，即教法、理法、行法、果法。教是佛所說的言教；理是教中所詮的義理；行是依理而起修的行持；果是由行而證的覺果。２．指菩薩修行的四法，即不捨菩提心、不捨善知識、不捨堪忍愛樂、不捨阿練若。３．指信、解、行、證。
四法===﹝出大乘本生心地觀經﹞
經云：於法寶中，有其四種，引導眾生，出生死海，到於彼岸。三世諸佛，依此修行，斷一切障，得成菩提。
〔一、教法〕，謂一切無漏善法，教化眾生，能破無明煩惱業障也。（無漏者，不漏落生死也。）
〔二、理法〕，謂一切教法所詮之義理也。
〔三、行法〕，謂戒定慧等諸行之法也。
〔四、果法〕，謂至果所證，無為涅槃等法也。（梵語涅槃，華言滅度。）
（名數）法寶中有四種：一教法，三世諸佛所說破無明煩惱之聲名句文也。二理法，教法所詮之義理也。三行法，依理而行之戒定慧也。四果法，行滿所得有為無為之證果也。心地觀經二曰：「於法寶中有其四種：一者教法，二者理法，三者行法，四者果法。」【又】菩薩修行之四法也：一不捨菩提心，二不捨善知識，三不捨堪忍愛樂，四不捨阿練若。見大乘記法經。【又】信解行證之四法也。占察經於此法各說成佛。【參見: 四種成佛】
Four Aspects (of Buddhist Dharma) 四法 (1) the teaching (2) the principle (3) the practice (4) the fruit/reward/result
Four Ways (of learning Buddhist Dharma) 四法 (1) Belief/faith (2) Interpretation/discernment (3) Practice/performance (4) Verification/assurance These are the cyclic process in learning a truth.
catvāro dharmāḥ, caturvidhā dharmāḥ, catur-vidha, catuṣ-koṭika, catuṣ-koṭikā, catuṣṭaya.
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