Teachings on the Unconditioned Dharma by Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

The Illusion of the Conditioned World

The Unconditioned Dharma is often understood by contrasting it with the Conditioned Dharma. Everything that falls within the realm of the conditioned is inherently transient. It is like a dream, a bubble, or a shadow; it is as fleeting as morning dew or a sudden flash of lightning. Because these phenomena are illusory, if we engage in conditioned actions for the sake of our own selfish desires, we only invite further pollution into our hearts.

In contrast, the Unconditioned Dharma is real and non-illusory. By embracing this path, we are able to rediscover our true self-nature. This nature is unborn and undying, neither defiled nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing, and inherently pure and unstained. This is the true, original nature that resides within us all, waiting to be reclaimed.

The Path of Selfless Action

To practise the Unconditioned Dharma is to embody selflessness and no-self. It means working for the benefit of all beings without ever seeking a reward. When the concept of a separate self ceases to exist, the afflictions of delusion, discrimination, and attachment naturally lose their hold on us. As long as we possess a physical body, we are practitioners who must uphold the Dharma. Once we succeed in this, the Unconditioned manifests, and we can fully reclaim our true self-nature.

Although we use the term non-action, this is merely a linguistic expression. In reality, the capacity of the Unconditioned is infinite. It is a state of being that acts solely for the purpose of saving beings. We act to help others leave suffering behind and rediscover their original nature. While these actions may appear to be conditioned, they are in fact the necessary means to save beings and are essential for our own study of the Buddha’s teachings and our effort to use this temporary body to find the eternal truth.

The Supreme Path of Chanting

Once we have reclaimed our true self-nature, we understand the wisdom of the saying: if even the Dharma should be let go of, how much more so should that which is not the Dharma? At this stage, we are no longer restricted by the laws of the world or conditioned phenomena. We become the masters of our own minds, dwelling in the cool, refreshing state of Unconditioned freedom.

The Pure Land method of chanting the Buddha's name is the ultimate expression of the great compassion of Amitabha Buddha. He has concentrated the entire path to Buddhahood into the Holy Name, Namo Amituofo. To walk this path, we must follow the core instruction: arouse the Bodhi mind and single-mindedly recite Namo Amituofo.

We transcend the past and the future, focusing only on the present moment. We chant one Buddha's name to the end, maintaining a continuous and unbroken stream of mindfulness. Through the power of the Buddha's blessings, we subdue and eventually eradicate our delusion, discrimination, and attachment. This is the complete journey from the initial aspiration to Buddhahood. Namo Amituofo.

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.