Two Entrances: Four Practices 二入四行

二入四行論

Treatise of Two Entrances and Four Practices

少室六門

The Six Aspects of [Mount] Shaoshi

入道四行觀

Contemplation of Four Practices for Entering the Path

This was actually probably written by Tánlín 曇林(506–574).

The Two Entrances and Four Acts, 二入四行, is a text traditionally attributed to Bodhidharma. Tánlín has traditionally been considered a disciple of Bodhidharma, but it is more likely that he was a student of Huìkě, who in turn was a student of Bodhidharma.

A great deal of material was added to it around the 8th century, by monks who may even have included Taoists.

This short text is comprised of two parts, the first being “entrance by principle” (理入), and the second “entrance by practice” (行入), with the latter being further divided into the “four practices” (四行). Although it contains only a few direct uses of the words “view” or “vision,” the first type of entrance however, that of principle, is basically a theoretical model, and closely corresponds to the notion of right view as an underlying conceptual paradigm for orthopraxy. For this reason, we shall present the entire “entrance by principle” here, which states:

"Entrance by Principle: That is, dependent on the teaching, one realizes the ideal. [One must] have deep conviction that sentient beings are alike in their true nature, [but] due to being covered by the adventitious defilements of unreal conceptualization, they are unable to manifest it. So, to abandon the unreal and return to the real, one should concentrate [the mind] and abide in the ‘wall contemplation’. [Here,] there is neither self nor other, common man and saint are one alike; one abides firmly, and is immovable. One will not further follow the written teachings. This is in conformity with the profound Principle. There is no conceptual discrimination, it is pacified and unconditioned. This is named entrance by Principle."