path of sages　聖道門 This term indicates such schools of Buddhism as Tendai, Shingon, and Zen, which teach the attainment of enlightenment through effort exerted in the observance of precepts (including celibacy, dietary restrictions, rules of conduct, etc.) and the pursuit of formalized methods of religious practice. In contrast, the Pure Land path teaches the way to becoming the supreme Buddha through being born in the Pure Land. The Chinese master Tao-ch’o divides all of Buddhism into these two paths, emphasizing that only the latter can effectively lead to enlightenment in the age of mappō.