漸教

The gradual method of teaching by beginning with the Hīnayāna and proceeding to the Mahāyāna, in contrast with 頓教 q.v. the immediate teaching of the Mahāyāna doctrine, or of any truth directly; e.g. the Huayan school considers the <Huayan sūtra> as the immediate or direct teaching, and the <Lotus Sūtra> as both gradual and direct; Tiantai considers the Lotus direct and complete; but there are other definitions.