The Four General Principles are:
Right Enlightenment and Right Conduct, Awareness of Graces and Requital of Graces,
Practical Utilization of Buddhism, and Selfless Service to the Public.
By Right Enlightenment and Right
Conduct is meant that one is to be enlightened to and to follow the Truth of
Ir-Won, that is, the orthodox mind-seal inherited from Buddhas and Patriarchs
so that one can perform one's conduct perfectly, and not be partial, biased,
excessive or deficient in using one's Six Roots, namely, eyes, ears, nose, tongue,
body and mind.
By Awareness of Graces and Requital
of Graces is meant that one should be aware of, and feel deeply, the way in
which one is indebted to Graces of Heaven and Earth, Parents, Brethren and Laws;
when following the way of being indebted, one is to requite these Graces. Even
if one is confronted with a case in which one is forced to bear a grudge, one
is to find a source of Grace and, by changing resentment to gratitude, one may
be able to requite Graces.
By the Practical Utilization of
Buddhism is meant that one should manage one's worldly affairs better on account
of being a Buddhist, thus avoiding the imperfections of the past, such as when
an old Buddhist disciple is unable to manage worldly affairs on account of being
attached to Buddhist doctrine. In other words, one is not to become useless
to the world because of being a Buddhist but to become a very useful person
who can contribute to one's family, society and nation by utilizing Buddhism
practically.
By Selfless Service to the Public is meant that one is to abolish the conduct of self-indulgence or egoism arising from taking care of only oneself or one's own family so that by altruistic Mahayana conduct one can sincerely devote oneself to rescuing all beings.