Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching about Classification of Teachings – Other-Power and Self-Power
淨宗判教 – 自他二力判
The Earth Store Sutra says, “For sentient beings in Jambudvipa, all of their thoughts are nothing but offenses, nothing but karma.” We create karma whenever we think. Every single thought is an offense. So, we commit nothing but offenses in each day of our lives. Since the day we were born, we have accumulated nothing but negative karma. How can we accumulate merit and virtues in order to escape from karmic retribution? When Amitabha Buddha created his 48 great vows for us, he thoroughly considered this point.
If he cannot help us to repay all of our debts, and enable us to be reborn in the Land of Bliss, he could not have become a Buddha. That is to say, the merit and virtues in his power are enough. So, Pure Land is the teaching of deliverance, totally relying on Amitabha’s deliverance, absolutely entrusting in Amitabha’s deliverance, it is absolute other-power, entirely other-power.
《地藏經》說：「南閻浮提眾生，起心動念，無不是罪，無不是業。」我們起心動念都是在造業，念念都是在造罪，所以，過一天就增加一天的罪業；出生於世，就累積一世的惡緣，哪有功德能夠脫離呢？這件事情，阿彌陀佛在主動為我們發四十八大願的時候，已經考慮周全了。
祂如果不能幫我們還清債務、使我們往生極樂世界的話，當然也不能成佛，也就是說，祂的力量功德還不夠。所以，淨土法門是救度的法門，是全憑彌陀救度，是絕對任憑彌陀救度，所以叫做絕對他力、完全他力。
Namo Amituofo!
