In line with the concept of skillful means, then, Tiantai promoted the idea that the Buddha preached four types of teachings:
(1) Gradual teaching, for those with lesser learning abilities (needing more time to learn the Buddhist principles).
(2) Sudden teaching, for those who h3) Secret teaching, which were more profound and mystical, and could be transmitted without the recipient even realizing it.
(4) Variable (adaptable) teaching, which could be readily adapted to any kind of person or situation.
And so, we can see that, as in other branches of Mahayana, human nature is taken as the basis for varying the Buddhist teaching. Some people can understand more, and some less, so we teach according to their ability to learn.
ad superior abilities (capable of quickly grasping the important Buddhist concepts