Types of Dharma

The Dharma is divided into conditioned dharmas and unconditioned dharmas, conditioned arising dharmas and non-conditioned arising dharmas. Conditioned dharmas are dharmas formed through actions and activities; they are dharmas formed subsequently, including the Five Aggregates, the Eighteen Realms, and the universe of the Triple Realm with its material world and living beings—all are dharmas. Conditioned dharmas are precisely conditioned arising dharmas. Unconditioned dharmas are non-created dharmas; they are dharmas that exist innately, dharmas that are originally present, dharmas not produced by causes and conditions. All that can be cognized by sentient beings are dharmas; whether visible or not, existence itself is Dharma.

There are true dharmas and deluded dharmas, dharmas subject to birth and cessation and dharmas not subject to birth and cessation, dharmas formed by causes and conditions and dharmas that are innate and not formed by causes and conditions. All dharmas are distinguished from every angle and every aspect. Conditioned arising dharmas possess phenomenal existence and essential emptiness, which is delusion; non-conditioned dharmas are originally existing dharmas, possessing no phenomenal form but having an essential substance, which is the true, indestructible Dharma. Any Dharma that directly points to the attainment of Buddhahood is the ultimate truth, while the methods used to reach that ultimate truth are expedient means.