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 Pure Land teaching is the teaching of Buddha Power. Our deliverance is totally dependent on Amitabha Buddha’s Other-Power. As long as we follow the teaching and practice unconditionally, whether we believe or not, and whether our minds are pure or not, great virtuous roots and blessings are bestowed upon us.
If we want to interpret this teaching with our limited capacities and question it with our flawed minds, we will lose great virtuous roots, great blessings, and great benefits. So, when studying the teaching of Other-Power, we shouldn’t interpret and measure from the perspective of self-power. The self-power concept cannot be taken as the benchmark in measuring this teaching.
淨土法門是佛力的法門,是完全他力的法門,是彌陀救度的法門,我們只能沒有條件地依教奉行,不論信不信、淨不淨,能夠這樣的話,大善根、大福德就在我們身上。
如果想以我們凡夫有漏、有限的能力去推理、去打問號,就失去大善根、大福德、大利益了。所以,這個他力法門,我們不可以用自力的觀點去衡量、去推測，自力的觀點是沒辦法作為標準來衡量這個法門的。
Namo Amituofo!
