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Faith in Amida Buddha means a twofold profound conviction:
1) to know that we are
people of deep karmic limitations, incapable to attain Buddhahood through our
own power;
2) to know that only
Amida Buddha can save us through His Vow Power (Other Power), without asking
anything from us
“Deep
mind is deep
entrusting faith.
It has two aspects. First, to believe deeply and unwaveringly that we are
actually ordinary beings of karmic evil subject to birth and death, ever
sinking and ever transmigrating in samsara since innumerable kalpas ago without
a chance to escape from it. Second, to believe deeply and unwaveringly that the
Forty-eight Vows of Amida Buddha enfold sentient beings, enabling them to board
His Vow-Power and attain Birth.”[1]
"There
are two aspects concerning this mind of trust: the first is to believe oneself
to be a foolish being of defiled karma, subject to birth-and-death, from
incalculable kalpas past constantly sinking and constantly turning, without any
condition that could lead to liberation. The second is to believe deeply and
decisively that, since one does not doubt that Amida's Forty-eight Vows grasp
sentient beings, one rides on the power of that Vow and will without fail
attain Birth.."[2]