Buddhism Terms are Puzzling - "Other Power" vs. "Own Power" 自力 vs. 他力

I come from a Buddhist family—specifically the Jodo Shinshu, or True Pure Land, school. Founded by Shinran (1173–1263) during the Kamakura period, it’s the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan. The tradition teaches that liberation comes through tariki, which literally means 'other power.'

Did you ever think there was something wrong with Shinran's teachings? I certainly did when I first learned about his sect in junior high history class. However, his teachings aren't inherently wrong; rather, they are insufficient for people today, leading many Japanese people to completely misunderstand his original intent. As a translator, I decided to do some research to find out what 'tariki' (other power) truly means.

According to the website of Otani University—a private Buddhist university in Kyoto—tariki in the True Pure Land school means more than just 'another person'; it is the absolute Other, or that which is furthest from you: Amitabha, and more specifically, Amitabha's power to save all living beings through the fulfillment of his Original Vow. In other words, by teaching people to live by tariki, Shinran (the founder of the school) meant that one should listen to the Original Vow of Amitabha—the absolute Other whose design is furthest from our own—and surrender to it.

Today, however, tariki (other power) is misunderstood to mean 'relying on others' or 'leaving things to others' by most Japanese people, including politicians—which has resulted in protests by True Pure Land temples and, on some occasions, official apologies from politicians.

The True Pure Land school and Zen (or more correctly, the Buddha Mind school) are the two most widely practiced branches of Buddhism in Japan, accounting for 60% of Japanese Buddhists. While the former emphasizes tariki (other-power, i.e., Amitabha's power), the latter relies on jiriki (one's own power) to achieve enlightenment. Surprisingly, Engakuji temple's website claims that tariki and jiriki actually mean the exact same thing—which is completely beyond my understanding!

Japanese is my first language, but sometimes it puzzles me the most. The Buddhism/Zen term 'mushin' is a perfect example. It literally means 'no mind,' but it doesn't actually mean that—it rather means nearly the opposite. Japanese is intriguing, isn't it?

Posted on 1/9/2026

Revised on 10/7/2026

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