Jiriki

Jiriki (自力, one's own strength^[1]) - here: the Japanese Buddhist term for self power, the ability to achieve liberation or enlightenment (in other words, to reach nirvana) through one's own efforts. Jiriki and tariki (他力 meaning "other power", "outside help") are two terms in Japanese Buddhist schools that classify how one becomes spiritually enlightened.^[2] Jiriki is very much urged and practiced in Zen Buddhism. In Pure Land Buddhism, tariki often refers to the power of Amitābha Buddha.^[3]

These two terms describe the strands of practice that followers of every religion throughout the world develop. In most religions you can find popular expressions of faith which rely on the worship of external powers such as an idol of some kind that is expected to bestow favor after being given offerings of faith from a believer. Some believers of Pure Land Buddhism accept that merely chanting the name of Amitabha Buddha will lead the believer to enlightenment, as some Western Christians believe that by merely asking Jesus to cleanse one's sins will lead to the attainment of such a desire. These are examples of tariki, reliance on a power outside of oneself for salvation.

Jiriki is experiencing truth for oneself and not merely accepting the testimony of another. An example of jiriki in Buddhism is the practice of meditation. In meditation, one observes the body (most often in the form of following the breath) and mind to directly experience the principles of impermanence and dependent arising or "emptiness") of all phenomena. Such principles are formally discussed in the Buddhist scriptures, but jiriki implies experiencing them for oneself.

However, the two ways are not to be seen as mutually exclusive, or jiriki seen as "better" than tariki. Indeed, a third way does present itself, which sees guidance from a teacher and self-practice in harmony. Eventually, the believer can continue without a teacher once the ways of practice are learned. Sometimes, each are taken to extremes and degenerate into practices which are strictly one way or the other. For example, in the attitudes of the tariki practices mentioned above in which it is believed that no other effort is required of the believer to attain the ultimate.

References

Further reading

• Ford, James L. (2002). Jōkei and the Rhetoric of "Other-Power" and "Easy Practice" in Medieval Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 29 (1-2), 67-106