Buddha’s power exists in the Dharma Realm. We don’t need to think about it or prepare for it, because it is already a ready-made thing. When you actually recite the Buddha's name, there are two kinds of power. The first is the mind you can recite, which is incredible; the second is the Dharma you are reciting, which is incredible. Everyone, do you know whether the confidence you build is based on mental strength or magic power? When you first started, you were based on Dharma power. How could I go to this place of refuge established by Amitabha? Because you have the Buddha's name, you can go. Because you have the saying "Infinite Light and Infinite Life," so you can go. At the beginning, focus on Dharma power.
In fact, when building confidence, building confidence in the name is a necessary condition. Your refuge state is outside the land of hundreds of trillions of Buddhas, and it is so majestic. Why can you go there? Because I have this Buddha's name in my heart, I can go by relying on this Buddha's name, and just relying on this infinite light and infinite life is enough, so when you recite the Buddha's name, you focus on the magic power. Your confidence in your name is a necessary condition! Necessary conditions!
What about this mental effort? Dispensable. If you have prajna wisdom and insight, this thought of mine is equal to that of the Buddha. It is actually inconceivable and not bad to establish a mind that can think of me!
But you have no confidence in your heart. I am a delusional person with heavy karma, so I can go! So it is most important that you build confidence in the Buddha's name.
Then if you can have confidence in your own heart, that is even better, it will be a bonus; if you have no confidence in your own clear heart, it doesn’t matter. I have heavy karma, it doesn’t matter, I can overcome it. It’s okay to lean on your body!
So when we are building confidence, you must know that the Pure Land method emphasizes other people's strengths. This is a fact, and it is different from Zen! You can have no confidence in yourself, can you? But you can’t have no confidence in the Buddha’s name. If you don’t have confidence in the Buddha’s name, that’s it!
You have no confidence in yourself. I have a lot of karma. How can I get away from it? It doesn't matter, you still go ahead!
Then if you have confidence in the name of the Buddha and confidence in yourself, then it would be best to cultivate the dual cultivation of Zen and Purity with thousand-year-old iceberg and snow lotus!
So here, everyone must know that the most important thing to build confidence is to build confidence in the merits of the name.
How can I get to this refuge state? Just by reciting this Buddha's name ten times before I die, I will be reborn! Incredible magic power is enough!
So the confidence in this place is that after planning a refuge place in your mind, you believe that you can go there. In the Mahayana classics, it is said that faith is like a person's hands, carrying treasures. How can you get treasures without hands? If you have no faith, then when you go into the treasures, you will come back empty-handed. You see, many people recite Buddha's name, but they don't pass away when they die! He also has a refuge state in his heart, but why does he not have a spiritual connection with this refuge state? Because he didn't believe that this Buddha's name could save him.
This Buddha's name is Infinite Light and Infinite Life, but if you want to activate its power, you must have both hands before you can open the door. Therefore, each Buddha's name produces different blessings in different hearts, because your faith is different in strength. So when your heart comes into contact with the Buddha's name, you believe that this Buddha's name will definitely take you to the Pure Land. You must believe that there is no doubt about this matter, and such a psychological construction must be done before you die. A firm mental preparation.