Other-Power in the Buddha-Recitation Practice

Question: In the dharma gate of recollection of the Buddha (buddhānusmṛti), what exactly does "external encouragement" refer to? 

Answer: External encouragement refers to being motivated by external conditions, which can be described as the Buddha's power of blessing. Especially when recollecting the Buddha, the recollection of the Buddha will resonate with the Buddha; when the Buddha responds, He will know the thoughts and aspirations of the practitioner recollecting the Buddha, and will bestow the function of blessing upon that practitioner, helping the practitioner strengthen his power of practice on the Path. 

The blessings of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas generally manifest in maturing sentient beings' five faculties and five powers. The five faculties include the faculty of faith, the faculty of mindfulness, the faculty of diligence, the faculty of meditative concentration (samādhi), and the faculty of wisdom. From these five faculties, the five powers arise. Under the operation of these five powers, sentient beings make continuous progress in their practice of the Path; when the mind attains purity (viśuddha), they will gain something and achieve accomplishment.