Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
Two Kinds of Deep Faith (continued)
The two kinds of deep faith are actually not two separate entities. Both kinds exist in one body. Master Shandao divided this singular faith into two categories to express this faith in two different ways.
Actually, the faith in “other-power” applies to those who are incapable of leaving by their own power; but, can attain assured rebirth because of the Buddha’s vow power. Simply speaking, it is a deep belief that the Buddha’s power can thoroughly rescue and deliver us. Thus, this faith is just of one kind with one taste, and not two separate kinds of faith.
The first kind of deep faith, as said by Master Shandao, is to urge ordinary beings like us to discard the thought of self-powered cultivation. He thus affirmed that we do not possess the causal conditions that enable us to leave. If we don’t discard this thought, we cannot develop this deep faith in aptitude.
Similarly, deep faith in Amitabha’s vow power means we totally entrust ourselves and rely on Amitabha’s vow power, as expressed in his Fundamental Vow. If we don’t rely on Amitabha’s vow power, we have no deep faith in the power Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow.
121 二種深信 (續)
二種深信的二種並非別體二種,而是同體二種,但畢竟所信之內容有機與法兩種,所以善導大師才在這裡將一種信心分別為機與法兩種,因為一種真實信心可以存在兩種不同的表現形式。
本來,所謂他力信心,是指信無有出離之緣的我等眾生因佛願力之救度而定得往生;略言之,即深信佛力將徹底救度我等,可見這種信心是一體一味的,並非存在兩種其體各別的信心。
善導大師之所以說決定深信自身無有出離之緣,是為了令我等眾生捨棄自力修行之思想,即確實地深信自身乃是無有出離之緣的眾生;但若不捨棄自力修行之思想,便無法深信自身無有出離之緣。
同理,所謂深信阿彌陀佛之願力,即將自身之往生完全托付於阿彌陀佛之願力,而完全仰靠阿彌陀佛之願力即是深信彼佛之本願力。若不仰靠彼佛之願力便是對阿彌陀佛之本願力仍不夠深信。
Namo Amituofo!
