Four principles of reasoning

Four principles of reasoning (Skt. yukti catuṣṭayam; T. rigs pa bzhi རིགས་པ་བཞི་) are four categories of reasoning that can be used to examine a Dharma teaching or other statement in order to determine its validity.

The four principles are:

1. the principle of function (Skt. kāryakāraṇayukti; T. bya byed kyi rigs pa)
2. the principle of dependence (Skt. apekṣāyukti; T. ltos pa’i rigs pa)
3. the principle of nature (Skt. dharmatāyukti; T. chos nyid kyi rigs pa)
4. the principle of evidence (Skt. upapattisādhanayukti; T. ‘thad sgrub kyi rigs pa)

According to Matthew Kapstein, these four categories first appear in the Samdhinirmochana Sutra.

Explanation

The 14th Dalai Lama states:

Buddhist treatises speak of four avenues, or principles, of reasoning – the principle of nature, the principle of dependence, the principle of function, and the principle of evidence. Parallels of these four principles, which are like natural laws, are found in science as well. The principle of nature just means that the world exists in a particular way and not another way, as for instance in the ... example of the mental and material continuities, and to reason based on this principal would mean to argue that phenomena must conform to the way things are. Also, by observing such properties of nature, other properties can be deduced.

Changes in the forms and states of phenomena are affected both through the interdependence of coexistent things and through the occurrence of causal sequences. This arising of different effects illustrates the principle of dependence, which is that everything arises from an appropriate cause. To apply this principle and rational analysis, we would argue with that because so-and-so is the case, such-and-such must also be true. For example, I could infer that if anger arises in me today, it won't just disappear. It will produce some kind of affect, such as restlessness, which will in turn become a cause for yet another effect.

This relates closely to the principle of function, which investigates the fruits of a given phenomena – seeing what it produces. Thus, the byproduct of an angry mind is restlessness, and the byproduct of a generous mind is tranquility. Likewise, Buddhism teaches that positive actions result in pleasurable experiences and negative actions bring suffering. The seed of the result is in some sense present in its cause, just as the potential for an oak tree is present in an acorn. The reason along these lines is to make use of the principle of function.

The principle of evidence refers to the larger inferences that can be drawn on the basis of the first three principles. This principle is illustrated and statements such as, "if you find if you want to find lasting happiness, you must discipline your mind." The mind exists as a continuum (the principle of nature), one moment of consciousness transforms subsequent ones (principle of dependence), harmful intentions result in unpleasant experiences (the principle of function); therefore, if you don't want to suffer, and you want to be happy, you have to learn to control your mind in order to create only positive, beneficial intentions. By reflecting on these facts, seeing how different mental states have different functions, you will come to understand deeply how disciplining the mind leads to happiness, and you will develop greater insight into the way things are.

Alternate translations

• Four applications (Artemus B. Engle)
• Four reasonings (Anne Helm)
• Four principles of reason (Matthew Kapstein)
• Four principles of reason (Thupten Jinpa)
  1. The principle of function
  2. The principle of dependence
  3. The principle of nature
  4. The principle of evidence
• Four principles of reason (Erik Pema Kunsang)
  1. the principle of efficacy
  2. the principle of dependence
  3. the principle of reality
  4. the principle of valid proof

Sources

• Dalai Lama, The Middle Way: Faith Grounded in Reason, translated by Thupten Jinpa. Wisdom Publications. The chapter on the Four Principles.
• Kapstein, Matthew (2001), 'Mi pham's Theory of Interpretation' in Reason's Traces, Boston: Wisdom Publications

Further reading

Print publications:

• Mipham Rinpoche (2012), Gateway to Knowledge, vol. IV, translated by Kunsang, Erik Pema, Rangjung Yeshe Publications 
• Shantarakshita; Jamgon Mipham (2005), The Adornment of the Middle Way: Shantarakshita's Madhyamakalankara with commentary by Jamgon Mipham, translated by Padmakara Translation Group, Boston: Shambhala Publications 

Web publications:

• Four principles of reasoning, Rigpa Shedra Wiki