【亲近胜利者】

你就是念佛，嘴巴里面虽然在念，心里面不外还是这种散乱昏沉相。「善」吗？根本谈不到，如果没有善知识的引导，不知道！而要得到善知识的引导，还非要自己具足弟子的条件，那个时候说了，你才能够听得进，要不然人家说你的话，心里还不服气，这个状态。所以他必须要的条件，这个次第是一点都不能错！那么到了这个时候，你因为你有了事先的准备，一心恭敬，而这个善知识也的的确确是具足条件的。不要说最完整的善知识一定是佛地，乃至于这种十地以上的权位菩萨，就比较差一点的，一定都是大地菩萨，当然来告诉你的绝对没问题的。所以你必然会有正确的认识，把我们心里面一向杂染的跟三毒相应的这个意乐，改过来了——善意乐。而我们一切的行为，他真正的枢纽引导者是什么？就是我们的心意呀！当你那个心意一改变过来，你的行为也成「善加行」。所以由于这个意乐善了，加行当然善。

来源 SOURCE：

日常师父法语 20B 26’00”手抄稿第三册 P141L7

20B 26’00” Vol 3 of Master Jih-Chang’s Discourse P141L7
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. If you do so, your thought will be virtuous through hearing virtuous teachings, whereby your practice as well will be virtuous. 】

Even when we are reciting the Buddha’s name, our lips may be moving but our minds are nevertheless in a state of distraction or laxity.  Can you call this a person of a "good lineage"?  Absolutely not.  But without the guidance of an excellent teacher, we won't know that!  However, in order to obtain the guidance of an excellent teacher, we must have the requisite characteristics of a student.  Only then will the instruction of the teacher be heard by you.  Otherwise, when they tell you your problems, you are still unconvinced.   That's the condition you are in.  Hence one must fulfill the criteria first.  The order of the stages cannot be mistaken at all!  By this time, since you have prepared ahead, you will venerate the teacher with your whole heart.  And this excellent teacher is also one who truly possesses the characteristics of an excellent teacher.  Not to mention that the most perfect excellent teacher would be the Buddha, but even the Bodhisattvas at the tenth level, or ones lower at the eighth level, of course there are absolutely no flaws as to what they tell you.  Hence, you will certainly gaincorrect understanding and transform our thoughts, which have always accorded with the defiled three mental poisons, to virtuous thoughts.  And for all of our actions, what is the real key that leads them?  It is our intentions!  When our intentions change, our "practice as well will be virtuous."  Since the thoughts have become virtuous, of course the practice will become virtuous.