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
(3 /5)
The Power of the Way
"The Power of the Way" refers to the "power of liberation—through subduing, eradicating, and purifying."
The first step is to “subdue greed, anger, and ignorance” through the practice of precepts, meditative concentration, and wisdom. The second step is to "eradicate greed, anger, and ignorance"; and the third step is to have "greed, anger, and
ignorance completely eradicated." Once all three steps are achieved, one can attain liberation. Only in this way can one obtain the Way, becoming a sage rather than a worldly being. This is called "The Power of the Way."
"The Power of the Way" refers to the power that sages possess when they have completely severed all afflictions, thereby achieving liberation from the cycle of birth and death. If ordinary, worldly beings possessed this Power of the Way, they would be able to subdue, eradicate, and eliminate afflictions, and thus be liberated from birth and death. However, ordinary beings only possess "karmic force" and lack "The Power of the Way." Therefore, ordinary beings must rely on "the power of Amitabha". If one lacks the Power of the Way and refuses to rely on the power of Amitabha Buddha, one is left with only karmic force, and can only fall into the various hells.
(to be continued tomorrow)
186 業力、自力、道力、佛力 (3 / 5)
道力
「道力」是指「伏、斷、淨——解脫力」。
通過修行戒定慧，第一步「伏住了貪瞋癡」，第二步「斷除了貪瞋癡」，第三 步「貪瞋癡斷除乾淨了」，這三步都做到了，就能解脫了。這樣才能夠得道，這 個就是聖者了，不是凡夫了——這個叫「道力」。
「道力」是指聖者斷盡煩惱，得到解脫生死輪迴的力量。如果凡夫有道力， 就能夠伏煩惱、斷煩惱、除煩惱，可以解脫生死輪迴。但凡夫只有業力，沒有 道力。所以，凡夫要靠佛力了。道力沒有，佛力再不靠，只有業力，就只能下地獄了。
Namo Amituofo!
