Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
The Dedication of Amitabha’s Other-Power
The Pure Land School specially establishes the teaching of the dedication of Amitabha’s Other-Power. It is unique among the Buddha’s teachings and isn't mentioned in any of the other Buddhist schools. “ The dedication of Amitabha’s Other-Power” is taught to explain the cause and effect of rebirth for sentient beings in Amitabha’s Pure Land, which is bestowed by Amitabha Buddha.
Basically, all Buddhas make Four Great Vows, including the first one - “ the number of sentient beings is boundless , I vow to deliver them all.” However, the deliverance of most Buddhas is limited to speaking the Dharma in order to guide their followers to cultivate; but, they cannot dedicate their “Buddha-power” to facilitate their deliverance.
The 18th Vow of Amitabha is different from the vows of all other Buddhas, because he accomplishes their deliverance through dedication of his “Other-Power”. This demonstrates that the deliverance of other Buddhas is not as complete as that of Amitabha.
As it is said in Amitabha’s 18th Vow, “ when I attain Buddhahood, sentient beings in the lands of the ten quarters who sincerely and joyfully entrust themselves to me, desire to be born in my land, and call my Name even ten times should not be born there, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.” Thus, Amitabha Buddha has vowed to bear all of the responsibilities for the rebirth of sentient beings.
125 他力迴向
淨土宗特立彌陀他力迴向之教義,他力迴向乃他宗所沒有,淨土宗獨有之特色。他力迴向在於說明眾生往生之因與果,皆為阿彌陀佛所施予。
本來諸佛皆各自建立四弘誓願,其中第一願便是眾生無邊誓願度,即立誓要救度一切眾生。不過這種救度依然停留在通過說法指導眾生修行佛道這一階段,而佛力迴向之救度卻未見於諸佛之誓願。
而阿彌陀佛之特殊誓願則超異於諸佛而成就他力迴向之救度。這便可以看出,諸佛之救度仍不夠徹底,而唯有阿彌陀佛之救度已臻於極致。
阿彌陀佛之第十八願誓言「設我得佛,十方眾生,至心信樂,欲生我國,乃至十念,若不生者,不取正覺」,既然阿彌陀佛已經誓言要承擔眾生往生之全部責任,那麼在其所發之願中便一定已經存有要將往生之因迴向予眾生的意涵。
Namo Amituofo!
