Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
Karmic Force, Self-Power, The Power of the Way, and The Power of the Buddha (5 /5)
Regarding "Karmic Force," ordinary beings are completely filled with it; life after life, we are driven by nothing but this karmic force.
Regarding "Self-Power," the cultivation power of ordinary beings is far too weak. Regarding "The Power of the Way," ordinary beings absolutely do not possess it.
As ordinary beings we are fully weighed down by karmic force. If we try to cultivate precepts, meditative concentration, and wisdom, our self-power is too weak to overcome our karma; nor can it lead us to the liberation attained through the Power of the Way. Therefore, we must rely on the Power of the Buddha.
Amitabha Buddha’s vows and practices are perfected, and all His merits are infused into his Name. We only need to have faith, make vows, and exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha. This will enable us to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Once we rely on Amitabha Buddha’s Power, we need not envy the "Power of the Way" possessed by Arhats, nor the meditative power of those sitting in meditation in mountain caves. Without relying on the Buddha’s power, even if one’s
meditative power is profound enough to reach the "Heaven of Neither Perception nor Non-Perception," one is still within the Three Realms and has not yet escaped them. However, the power of Amitabha Buddha can enable us to transcend the Three Realms, attain rebirth in the West, and become Buddhas.
186 業力、自力、道力、佛力 (5 / 5)
就「業力」來說，凡夫通身都是滿滿的業力，生生世世都是業力來的。 就「自力」來說，凡夫的修持力太微弱了。
就「道力」來說，凡夫絕對沒有道力。
我們是業力凡夫，通身業力，想修持戒定慧，靠自力很微弱，不能夠克服 我們的業力，也不能夠達到道力解脫，所以我們就要靠佛力。
阿彌陀佛願行圓滿，功德凝聚在這句名號裡邊。我們只要信願持名，仰靠 這句「南無阿彌陀佛」救度的力量，就能往生西方極樂世界。
我們靠上了阿彌陀佛的佛力，就不用羡慕阿羅漢的道力，也不用羡慕人 家山洞裡面打坐的禪定力。如果不靠佛力，就算禪定力深，達到非想非非想 天，還在三界之內，沒有出離。而阿彌陀佛的力量，能讓我們出離三界，往生西方成佛。
Namo Amituofo!
