A reader asked Shingyo Sensei of Amidaji: “The most succinct definition of any school of Buddhism made by the Buddha himself is the sentence ‘Not to do any evil, to cultivate good, to purify one’s mind, this is the teaching of the Buddhas’. Is this to be found in the teachings of Jodo Shinshu?”
Shingyo Senseigave him a very simple and direct answer:“This was said in the context of the self-power Path. However, it is possible to reinterpret these words in accordance with the Path of Other Power (Jodo Shinshu Buddhism/the Path of total reliance on Amida’s Power):
“Not to do any evil”- wish to be born in the Pure Land. (Samsara is evil).