Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
186. Karmic Force, Self-Power, the Power of the Way, and the Power of the Buddha
(2 /5)
Self-Power
"Self-power" refers to the "power derived from the practice of precepts, meditative concentration, and wisdom."
For those who believe in the Buddha, in order to counteract karmic force, one must practice—this is where "self-power" comes into play.
To what extent can we cultivate the precepts, concentration, and wisdom? As the level of our practice increases, this power also grows. Yet, one remains a worldly being. Whether one keeps the five precepts, meditates to attain concentration, or develops wisdom, one is still a worldly being. All of these practices are rooted in self-power.
We accumulate, deepen, and elevate these practices step by step. What level must we reach? We must reach a point where the self-power of these precepts, concentration, and wisdom can surpass our karmic burdens. This is like having the immense power of a great train, that we can stop and then pull back in the opposite direction. Only then is it possible to be liberated from the cycle of birth and death. As it turns out, our self-power is no match for our karmic burdens. When the karmic force is greater than our self-power, we simply continue to fall!
(to be continued tomorrow)
186 業力、自力、道力、佛力 (2 / 5)
自力
「自力」是指「戒定慧修持力」。
信佛的人要對治業力，就要修行了，才談到自力。
我們戒定慧能不能修持，到哪個程度？隨著修持程度的增加，力量會增 加。這個還是凡夫。修五戒，還是凡夫；打坐，想修禪定，還是凡夫；開了慧， 還是凡夫。這是自力修行法門、通途法門。
慢慢累積、慢慢加深、慢慢提高，達到什麼程度？達到戒定慧自力能超 過業力，像一個大火車那麼強大的力量，我們能把它擋住，然後把它拉回頭， 才有可能解脫生死輪迴。結果我們的自力不敵業力，業力大於自力，我們還 不是往下掉！
Namo Amituofo!
