別教=Separate-teaching; 圓教=Perfect-teaching; 三觀=Threefold Contemplation; 別相三觀=Separate Threefold Contemplation; 通相三觀=Universal Form Threefold Contemplation; 一心三觀=Threefold Contemplation in one single Mind; 三種止觀=Three kinds of Contemplation; 天台=T’ien-t’ai Buddhism
在修法上：天台別、圓二教同樣皆修三觀，而別教是三者分別逐次地先修空觀，空觀成就之後再修假觀；空、假二觀成就之後，再以此二觀作為方便（基礎），進一步修中觀（但是在主修一種觀法的同時，也可先附帶兼修一下其餘的觀法，使得別教觀法也可成為接入圓教觀行的一種方便法門）；圓教則是從始至終都是修在一心中同時作三種觀的一心三觀。在斷除煩惱上：二教都是次第斷見思、塵沙、無明三種惑，但是圓教又特別就惑智不二之圓理講「不斷而斷」——雖斷除煩惱，就本體實相而言，其實本無增減，無所謂斷；又，本體實相亦非與煩惱絕然而隔斷不相關者，如佛菩薩雖證得實相而無煩惱，但是也能因應救度眾生而方便顯現煩惱之相。就修行果位言：二教同樣是逐漸證空、假、中三諦，破三惑而得一切智、道種智、一切種智三智而證得各種果位；但是比較相對應的同一行位，圓教果位的成就乃高過於別教。就最終所證的境界來說：二教最後所證得的佛位是相同的；但是圓教的觀法比別教還要巧妙得多。就眾生適合哪種法門的根機來講：二教同樣是要教化大乘根基的眾生；但是別教適合所有修行菩薩乘的人；圓教則只適宜教化根器最好的利根菩薩。末了，以修行成就的難易程度和快慢來說：別教容易實踐，但是要經過非常長遠的時間才能成就；圓教的觀法則很難，但是能夠很快速的成就，甚至在人的一生當中就可以達到一定的程度，也就是開始一部份一部份地逐漸證得中道佛性的「初住位」。最後，以別、圓二教之相通來說，過去世曾修習圓教之利根人於因緣成熟時，雖是聽聞別教，亦能由之悟入圓教之理，即是智顗所說的「圓接別」。在觀行上，筆者以為，別教觀亦有藉由兼修餘觀以接入通相三觀，進而至圓教一心三觀的可能。筆者認為，天台圓教的觀行法門雖然如眾所周知的，極為殊勝究極而能直捷快速地成就果位，但是要注意的是：在修行上，這種一開始就要同時作三觀的法門卻是非常不容易真實相應而得力的，所以智顗說只有最上利根的菩薩才是相應修證的根機。相對的，別教的三觀則是分別次第漸修證，先修空觀，後修假觀，再修中觀。其修行成就的時間雖然長遠，卻不失為一種穩當又能普遍適合所有發心要修大乘法門之眾生的方法。而且當依別教法在漸次修空、假二觀之際，若是能兼修其餘觀法——修空觀時兼修一下假觀、中觀（此兼修是時而轉以假觀或中觀為觀法，而非於一心同時作兩種觀或三種觀）；證空而進修假觀時（此時已可同時作空、假兩種觀，即真空假有之從空入假觀），兼修一下中觀（此兼修是時而轉以中觀為觀法而非於一心同時作三觀）——並時時思及三諦圓融之理，則因緣成熟時，不須要等到假觀成就，亦得即由空觀或假觀進入通相三觀，以至於轉成圓教之一心三觀矣。筆者並不認為別教觀法能包含或取代圓教一心三觀之觀法。上上根機之人也應直接修行圓教法門而速疾成就。但是基於上述別教觀法之優點，在眾人皆特別注意、讚嘆圓教之餘，筆者認為別教觀法也是一種相當值得推薦的修行法門。 Threefold Contemplation is the essential element of contemplation method in T’ien-tai Buddhism. It is delineated from Four Teachings. But there are only Separate-teaching and Perfect-teaching these two teachings involve complete Threefold Contemplation, and can reach to the ultimate destination. The purposes of this paper are to introduce the Separate Threefold Contemplation which belongs to Separate-teaching and the Threefold Contemplation in one single Mind which belongs to Perfect-teaching, the relationship between these two teaching and Three Kinds of Contemplation, and to compare the former with the latter in six aspects：1.the way of contemplation, 2.cleaning out vexations, 3.grades of practicing, 4.ultimate goal, 5.natures of practicing, 6.speed of practicing. In my opinion, the Gradual Contemplation includes Four Teaching and Separate-teaching is it’s representation. The contemplation way of Perfect-teaching is the most excellent and quickly way, but it is suitable only for the best nature of Bodhisattva. On the contrary, the contemplation way of Separate-teaching is by gradual way. Although it takes very long time to arrive the ultimate goal, it’s a sure-footed way and suitable for all of Bodhisattva. Besides, one can practice all the other ways of Three Contemplations when practicing Contemplation of Emptiness or Contemplation of Provisional and thinking about the “Threefold Truth” ( three Truths which are inseparable). By this way, one can get into the “Universal Form Threefold Contemplation”, and advance to practice Threefold Contemplation in one single Mind. So the Separate Threefold Contemplation is worth to be recommended.
