Master Huijing’s Short Teaching about Pure Land Buddhism (I)
淨土短文 (一)
14. “Good” is divided into two types: conditioned good (with outflows) and unconditioned good (without outflows).
Conditioned good refers to goodness that still contains defilements and is therefore conditioned. It does not accord with the true nature of reality (Dharma-nature). Because it involves intentional effort and imperfect mental processes, it is still mixed with “outflows” of greed, anger, and delusion; as well as inversion, falsity, and unreliability. Hence, its merit is not genuine or ultimate.
Unconditioned good refers to goodness that is unconditioned and accords with the Dharma-nature. It is free from imperfect effort or fabrication. An example is the Name of Amitabha Buddha.
● From the side of sentient beings (the practitioner), the Name functions as the essential body of the Dharma of rebirth; by exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha one directly attains birth in the Pure Land.
● From the side of the Dharma (Amitabha’s liberating activity), the Name functions as the essential body of the Dharma that saves sentient beings. The exclusive recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha carries out the work of delivering beings.
Thus, Namo Amitabha Buddha contains the infinite power of Amitabha’s 18th Vow. It alone accomplishes our rebirth and performs the work of universal liberation.
14. 善，分有漏善和無漏善。
有漏善，即有為。不順法性有造作，如漏貪瞋癡，顛倒、虛偽，不實功德。
無漏善，即無為。隨順法性無造作，如彌陀名號，機是往生法體，稱名獨達；法 是度生法體，名號獨運。
Namo Amituofo!
