Comment by failures-abound on 04/02/2025 at 00:11 UTC

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View submission: Why Buddhism?

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The Christian group (cult) I was involved with before becoming a Buddhist taught that we were so utterly contaminated by sin that virtue was impossible. Loving people was just sin. Service was just sin. All we could do is beg for an undeserved forgiveness.

What's interesting is that you could change a couple words and be describing Pure Land practice. We are incapable of being good by ourselves, and must surrender entirely to embracing the vow of Amitaba Buddha which will assure our rebirth in the Pure Land.

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Comment by Surfdog532 at 04/02/2025 at 05:13 UTC

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Not into Pure Land, but as far as I know, this is not what Pure Land says. Pure Land is not saying that we are incapable of enlightenment by ourselves, but that Amitaba has taken a vow to help us achieve this, and that his vow is more powerful than our particular karma.