他力本願(たりきほんがん)

たりきほんがん
noun
relying on others; dependence on others
idiomreligion
1. relying on others; dependence on others; leaving things to others
In everyday usage, describes the attitude of depending on others to do things for you rather than making an effort yourself. Carries a negative connotation of laziness or lack of initiative.
他力本願(たりきほんがん)ではうまくいかない。
It won't work out if you just rely on others.
他力本願(たりきほんがん)ではなく、自分(じぶん)で努力(どりょく)すべきだ。
You should make an effort yourself, not rely on others.
彼(かれ)はいつも他力本願(たりきほんがん)で、自分(じぶん)からは何(なに)もしようとしない。
He always depends on others and never tries to do anything himself.
2. salvation through Amida Buddha's power (Buddhist term)
The original Buddhist meaning: the belief in Pure Land Buddhism that salvation comes through the power (他力) and original vow (本願) of Amida Buddha, rather than through one's own efforts.
浄土(じょうど)宗(しゅう)では他力本願(たりきほんがん)が教(おし)えの中心(ちゅうしん)である。
In Pure Land Buddhism, reliance on Amida's power is central to the teachings.
他力本願(たりきほんがん)の思想(しそう)は親鸞(しんらん)によって広(ひろ)められた。
The concept of salvation through Amida's vow was spread by Shinran.
本来(ほんらい)の他力本願(たりきほんがん)は仏教(ぶっきょう)用語(ようご)であり、他人任(たにんまか)せという意味(いみ)ではない。
Originally tariki hongan is a Buddhist term; it does not mean 'leaving things to others.'

A 四字熟語(よじじゅくご) with a notable gap between its original Buddhist meaning and its everyday usage. In everyday Japanese, it is almost always used in sense 1 with a negative connotation. Buddhist scholars sometimes object to this colloquial usage, noting that the original meaning (sense 2) refers to a profound religious concept in 浄土真宗(じょうどしんしゅう) (Jodo Shinshu Buddhism). The opposite concept is 自力(じりき) (relying on one's own efforts).