Just as fault lines weaken a stone,

self-doubt weakens the will.

Fault lines in even the hardest stone will eventually weaken it to the point that it will crack and, with time, crumble.

In the same way, self-doubt will wear away and weaken our will.

We learn in the Pure Land teachings that we need three requisites, the first of which is unwavering belief. Great Master Ouyi explained in his commentary to the Amitabha Sutra that belief first means “having belief in oneself and belief in others, . . . .”

We need to believe that we have the same true nature, the same Buddha-nature, as do Buddhas. Having the same true nature, we have the ability to awaken and become a Buddha. A danger is that we will doubt what the Buddhas and ancient masters have taught, doubt that we truly can awaken.

Such doubt will be like a fault line, cracking and crumbling our resolve.

With unwavering belief in others—in the Buddha—we will eliminate self-doubt.