Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
The Rewards Resulting from the Efforts of Others
The effects resulting from Amitabha’s Other-Power are known as “rewards resulting from the efforts of another.” It is similar to children receiving benefits from the efforts of their parents. It is just like Buddhas and Bodhisattvas who make the Four Great Vows and practice the Bodhisattva Way to benefit sentient beings, eradicate their karmic offenses, and deliver them from reincarnation. These are called “rewards resulting from the efforts of others”.
“Others” mean Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. With respect to the Pure Land teaching, “other” refers only to Amitabha Buddha. Amitabha Buddha set forth his 48 vows for sentient beings in the ten directions. He also cultivated and accumulated a myriad of Bodhisattva virtues for sentient beings through countless eons. These are known as “the efforts of another”.
Amitabha made immense efforts in practice, and the resulting merit and virtues are given to sentient beings like us. This is how “we are benefitted”.
(to be continued tomorrow)
他作自受
他力的因果就是他作自受--別人做,而我們來領受。這種是就諸佛菩薩發四弘誓願,發大菩提心行菩薩道來利益眾生、救度眾生、消眾生的罪業、度脫眾生的輪迴,這樣就叫「他作自受」。
「他」是指佛菩薩的意思,若以淨土法門來說,「他」單指阿彌陀佛。阿彌陀佛發四十八大願是為十方眾生所發,他兆載永劫、積植菩薩萬行功德,是為十方眾生所累積,這叫做「他作」;阿彌陀佛所做的,而果報功德,卻是我們眾生來領受、信受,叫作「自受」。
Namo Amituofo!
