現實之理，正說明此論「真的現實之理」者也。換言之，即正明此「現實」一詞所詮之義理也。通常所用「現實」一名之意義，明顯說之，即是「現前事實」。依此現前事實而有所言說或主張者，即為現實論或現實主義。故現實一名與理想一名相對；理想云者，但由理上推想如何若何，而並非事上已如此若此者。
The principle of reality, as stated here, truly explains what is meant by "the reality of reality." In other words, it clarifies the meaning of the term "reality" itself. Commonly, when we say "reality," it plainly refers to "the facts before us." Any statement or viewpoint based on these present facts is called realism or reality-based thinking. Thus, the term "reality" stands in contrast to "ideals"; ideals are merely reasoned conjectures about how things might be, not how they already are in actuality.
然理想一名，與「想像」、「假想」、「臆想」、「妄想」等名詞，其詮義亦不同。以理想者，是從一種理性上推想將來可以成為事實者。根據此理想而有所言說主張者，曰理想主義；與此對立者，曰現實主義。
However, the term "ideal" differs in meaning from words like "imagination," "assumption," "conjecture," or "delusion." An ideal is something rationally envisioned as potentially achievable in the future. When one speaks or advocates based on such an ideal, it is called idealism; its opposite is realism.
今真現實論之現實，雖不離現前事實之本義，但較平常所云現實，更加真切深奧，故其理由有四種層次：第一、「現變實事」曰現實者，唯現在顯現而變動變化著的，始為實有之事，故曰「現實」。此理與平常所云之現實，已較精深，然其義尚不止於此。第二、現變實事縮稱之為「現事」；明現變實事真實理性之「現事實性」，始曰現實。第三、縮現事實性曰「現性」，於此現性能實證覺，謂之「實覺」。如是現性實覺始曰現實。第四、復將前義縮為「現覺」，即一切法現正等覺。於此現覺圓成實際上窮神盡化之變用，謂之「現覺實變」。乃盡真現實論所明現實之理，今依次說明之於下。