The term “other power” is often misunderstood. This paper aims to address the question of what Shinran was intending to do in setting forth a Buddhist path based on other power. First, I point out that “self power” does not mean the same thing as “effort.” Next, I show that self power refers to relying on oneʼs own capacities or way of thinking and misconstruing Buddhism based on oneʼs own self-centered ideas of what it should be, such that it ultimately ceases to be Buddhism altogether. Finally, I argue that it is the working of Amida Buddhaʼs original vow that overcomes this problem that human beings are faced with, and it is only through other power that a path to Buddhahood that is truly open to anyone can be established.
