【亲近胜利者】

【《不可思议秘密经》中亦云：「若善男子，或善女人，应极恭敬，依止亲近承事尊重。。。】
这个「善」字的意义，有它程度深浅的不同。普通我们说的「善男子、善女人」，这是一个口头上面的习惯，也就是给大家一个好的印象。现在我们这里了解，这个「善」字——具有种性的修学佛法的补特伽罗这个人，那么具要什么条件呢？一定是前面断器三过、具六种想，乃至于要具弟子相，具弟子的四个相，这个才成「善男子、善女人」。所以这个关键非常重要。平常我们总说修学佛法了，为什么得不到好处呢？就是那个「善」字的定义不知道。或者应该这样说，就是「善」，究竟我们内心上面到了什么程度，那个时候你才能够承受听闻佛法?大家都没这个准备，就想去求佛法了，那所以得不到好处。

来源 SOURCE：

日常师父法语 20B 22’19”手抄稿第三册 P139LL3

20B 22’19” Vol 3 of Master Jih-Chang’s Discourse P139LL3
English Lamrim Vol 1, P88

【The benefits of relying on the teacher】

【And also the Sutra of Showering the Tathagata’s Inconceivable Secret (Tathagatacintyaguhya-nirdesa-sutra) says:

Sons and daughters of good lineage, rely upon, become emotionally closer to, serve, and venerate the guru with great respect. 】

The meaning of this "good lineage," there are different levels of depth to it.  Generally, when we say “Sons and daughters of good lineage”, this is a habitual expression, i.e. to give everyone a good impression.  Now we know that, this "good lineage" – this person who has the inclination inherited from former lives to practice the dharma,  what are the prerequisites of this type of person?  One must have eliminated the three faults of a vessel and possess the six ideas.  And, one should even fulfill the requisite characteristics of being a student, the four requisite characteristics of being a student.  Only then can one be called the "Sons and daughters of good lineage".  Hence this vital point is very important.   We would often say even though we have been training in Buddhism, why are we not able to get benefit from it?  This is because we do not understand the definition of "good lineage."  Or perhaps we should say it in this way, for this "good lineage", to what extent do we have to achieve, before we can listen and receive the teaching?  We do not have such preparation, yet,  we want to seek for the teachings.  Therefore, we will not obtain benefit from it.