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20060111

Jiriki and Tariki

In Jodo Shinshu, the term jiriki refers to self-power while the term tariki refers to Other-power.

Such power is not corporeal; it is merely a form of perception.

Yet such a change in perception touches the heart deeply.

For it is through faith that the Pure Land practitioner is embraced by Amida, and thus deeply moved to utter the Name-that-Calls.

Links:
Bodhicitta (man's aspirations for Enlightenment), Jiriki and Tariki: http://www.nembutsu.info/bandluan.htm

5 comments:

Sageb1 said...

Self-power is striving for Enlightenment for one's own self; Other-power, reliance on Amida Buddha to aid in one's aspirations for Enlightenment. Either way, the Pure Land devotee's aspiration is to be reborn in the Pure Land, first as a state of mind and after one's death, to return to the Absolute.

Sageb1 said...

In quietly stating that the Name-that-calls moves me to say the Nembutsu, I am not denying that Steve says the Nembutsu with his mouth.

Indeed, embraced by Oyasama, this heart within becomes the heart-mind which says aloud,

Namu-Amida-Butsu.

Sageb1 said...

Wikipedia's entry on Genshin touches on tariki and jiriki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genshin

Teachings and Doctrines of Pure Land Buddhism: http://www.jsri.jp/English/Pureland/doctrine.html

Sageb1 said...

Faith in the Primal Vow (hongan) is important to the Jodo Shinshu practitioner.

Such faith results from the subtle influence of tariki.

For tariki is reflected in the phrase "embraced by Amida never to be let go", which is a euphemism for the interdependence between self and other, between one person and all the people who have made a deep and lasting impression on his life.

Jiriki is reflected in the original aspiration for Enlightenment, i.e. the sincere desire for Enlightenment .

Sageb1 said...

Yet the sincere desire for Enlightenment so as to benefit not only oneself but other people arises from the dynamics of jiriki and tariki working in the heart-minds of all sentient beings.