1.The teachings and
practices taught by Shakyamuni Buddha can be classified in two categories,
depending on the capacities of beings: the path of personal power (jiriki) and
the path of reliance on the Power of Amida Buddha (Tariki).
2.The path of personal
power is also called the difficult path because it refers to following the
Buddhist practices and attaining Enlightenment through one’s own efforts. It is
a path which often includes retiring from the world.
3.The Path of reliance
on the Power of Amida Buddha (the Path of Faith) is also called the easy path
because it depends exclusively on the unconditional help offered by Amida who
guides the faithful to His Pure Land where Enlightenment is spontaneously
attained.
4. The various
teachings and practices of the self power path can be followed only by people
of superior capacities, so they have a limited relevance.
5. The Path of
reliance on the Power of Amida Buddha, also called Amida Dharma, can be
followed by anybody, no matter his or her spiritual capacities, and even by the
lowest of the low. For this reason it has universal relevance. All beings can
be saved through it.
6.The more time passes since the physical
presence of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lower the capacities of beings are, as they
become more and more incapable to follow the paths of self power. In this age
of moral and religious decadence, of powerful attachements and blind passions,
the only path that can save us from repeated births and deaths is the Path of
Faith in the Salvific Power of Amida Buddha.
7. We must become
aware of the impermanence of our bodies and the world we live in, but we must
also never forget about the impermanence of our so-called „spiritual
realizations.”
This truth may be hard to swallow but Amida Dharma teaches
us that our spiritual evolution is a delusion. What we think we obtained now,
we can lose in the next moment. The ego cannot evolve; all it really does is to
constantly adapt itself to various coarse or refined attachments. From material
pleasures to spiritual satisfaction and false Nirvanas, the possibilities of
deceit are endless for those who rely on personal power.
8. If we look to our
lives from the perspective of physical impermanence and the impermanence of our
so-called „spiritual realizations” we can see things clearly and ask ourselves
the right questions. What would happen to us if we die today? You, the reader
or listener of these lines, must ask yourself this question: what will happen
to you if you die today? Your so called virtues are weak and insignificant,
which means that your next rebirth, that can come even now while you are reading
these lines is uncertain if you do not rely on Amida.
9. Especially because
you are an ordinary person you can’t afford not to be sure where you go after
death. If you have met Amida’s helping hand, accept it immediately without
hesitation. You must not assume any risk related to the essential matter of
your future rebirth and you must not allow death to catch you unprepared, that
is, without faith.
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