【修持轨理 The Meditation Session】亲近胜利者 The benefits of relying on the teacher P14

【亲近胜利者】

而在娑婆世界，你如法地去这样行持的话，坏的境界固然不能引动你，不但不能引动你，而且坏的境界碰到你身上，都转化成好的境界，这个却是极乐世界绝对没有的，这个才是我们这个地方的真正重要。
好处都从哪里来啊？嘿，依靠善知识!要依靠善知识，你必须要自己具足这个条件。能够这么一来，「能令自他不起忧恼」，为什么不起忧恼？跟法相应。法的特质是什么？它能够净化杂染，净化烦恼。这个烦恼跟杂染就是忧恼的根本，没有了，当然你自己也不会有，你也不会让人家生起忧恼。那个时候真是「随顺护自他故」，那个才是真正地保护自己、是保护别人。

来源 SOURCE：

日常师父法语21A 02’43”手抄稿第三册 P146LL6

21A 02’43” Vol 3 of Master Jih-Chang’s Discourse P146LL6
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. Then, through creating virtuous karma and becoming virtuous, you will please your virtuous friends. You also will not bring suffering upon others or yourself…】

But when you are in the Saha world (i.e. Samsara), if you practice according to the teachings, not only will an adverse situation be unable to incite non-virtue from you, when an adverse situation arises, you can transform it to become a beneficial situation. This is something that is absolutely missing in the Pure Land.  This is the real important aspect of being where we are.

Where do all these benefits come from?  Hey, from relying on an excellent teacher!  To rely on an excellent teacher, you must have the requisite characteristics.  If you can do this, "You also will not bring suffering upon others or yourself". Why will you not bring sufferings?  It is because you are in accordance with the teachings.  What is the unique attribute of the teachings?  It can purify your defilements and purify your afflictions.  Afflictions and defilements are the source of all sufferings.  If they are gone, of course you will not suffer and you will not cause others to suffer.

At that time, you will be truly "guarding others and yourself."  That's when you are truly protecting yourself and others.