Many people also find it odd that Pure Realm (Pure Land) Buddhists teach the exclusive reliance on “Other Power” while the Buddha, in his final instructions to his disciples, seems to have adamantly insisted on self power:
“Therefore, O Ananda, be ye lamps unto yourselves. Rely on yourselves, and do not rely on external help. Hold fast to the Dhamma as a lamp. Seek salvation alone in the Dhamma. Look not for assistance to any one
besides yourselves.” Mahaparinibbana Suttanta
Many people mistakenly believe Other Power is either Higher Power or External Power. Buddhists reject the idea of a higher power in the sense of a God who is the creator and controller of the universe. All things
have Buddha nature and are thus equal. As for external or other power, the non-dualistic insight of Buddhism sees the designation of internal and external as conventional distinctions only and not absolute. Other Power
simply refers to the Dharma Power which is other than the vicious circle of samsara (birth-and-death), other than ego or self-centered power that loops and feeds back on itself. You might say it’s self regenerating.
A fundamental teaching of all Buddhists is the “Three Marks of Existence”: Dukkha, Impermanence and Selflessness (anatman). Looked at in terms of Selflessness, the Buddha’s deathbed instruction to “rely on
yourselves” can be just as misleading as the Pure Realm schools’ teaching of “exclusive reliance on Other Power.” The Buddha seems to be saying, “Rely on yourself but there is no self. Rely on that which doesn’t exist.” Actually, as you study Buddhism, Self Power and Other Power resolve themselves into Non-Self. They are just two different ways of getting there; different paths for people of different capacities and inclinations.*...
Words in Buddhism are always pointing beyond themselves to intuitive and, at the same time, practical and visceral experiences and insights. The teachings of Buddhism are like a finger pointing to the moon. Don’t get stuck on the finger or you will never see the moon of the true Dharma.
*Our capacity to gain enlightenment in this life is a very important point which, at least superficially, separates some schools of Buddhism. It is an important point to understand and leads to many other points of
debate or differences in perspective and attitudes between schools. In the Jodo Shinshu teaching, we talk about those with Shinjin (“faith”) living with the assurance of enlightenment (Pure Realm) at the moment of
death.
http://seattlebetsuin.org/newsletter/201302-en.pdf