Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 20 : (See the post dated Oct. 22)
Answer: (continued 2/6)
The Buddhadharma is entirely grounded in cause and effect—no teaching can ever contradict it.
However, in the path of self-power (the Sacred Path), it is “cause-and-effect by oneself” Whatever you do, you must bear its result. If you cultivate good causes, you enjoy good results; if you accumulate evil causes, you suffer bitter results. This is called “self-made causes, self-borne effects.” Good deeds bring good rewards; evil deeds bring evil retribution. You yourself must shoulder the responsibility.
On the other hand, in the Pure Land teaching of other-power, it is not so. Here it is “ the karma one makes, another bears.” Throughout innumerable lives we have accumulated countless debts from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, harsh speech, the five grave offenses, the ten evils, and so forth. We are unable to repay them on our own, and thus are trapped in suffering.
Out of great compassion, Amitabha Buddha takes them upon himself. Through the merit he has accumulated, he repays our karmic debts, and bears our retribution. This is “self-made, other-borne.” The burdens of our evil karma are shouldered
and resolved by Amitabha; while we are able to share in and inherit the virtues Amitabha has cultivated.
(to be continued tomorrow)
20問：
續答 (2/ 6)：
佛法是建立在因果上的，任何法門都不可能違背因果。
只是自力門（即聖道門）是「自因自果」。亦即自己所作的，自己承受：自己作善 因，自己承受樂果；自己種惡因，自己承受苦果，這叫做「自因自果，自作自 受」，善有善報，惡有惡報，自己要承擔的。
淨土他力法門就不是這樣的，是「自作他受」，我們累生累劫以來，自己所欠 的殺人的債、偷盜的債、邪淫的債、妄語、惡語的債、五逆十惡種種債，我們 沒辦法還清，所以一直在輪迴受苦。阿彌陀佛悲愍我們，為我們承擔，為我們 累積功德，替我們償還，所以是「自作他受」。
Namo Amituofo!
