【亲近善知识 Relying on The Excellent Teacher】摄彼等义亲近善知识 A summary of the meaning of relying on the teacher P16

【摄彼等义】

【若如是者，不久当如志力希有常啼佛子，及求知识不知厌足善财童子。】

譬如我们现在来说，世间的很多好的事情，哪有一个人不想的？人人想，叫你不去做，欸，谁都不愿意。有一个好东西摆在那里，叫你说坐在那里，你慢慢地去吃，你受不了耶！为什么好东西在那里的话，叫你不去吃?我们的的确确，就一个劲儿叫你坐在那里，坐不住，站起来去走是远比坐在那里来得容易，那我想我们大家体会得到的，对不对？为什么？那就是你内心当中，如实地了解这个对你有好处，然后生起来推动你的力量，那个时候做起来就很容易了。佛法也是如此。现在我们脑筋里都有的染污，等到你真正认识了，我们真正要求的一切好处，都是靠什么？这个法财，佛法之财，那时叫你不做是难的，叫你做是容易的。我想这个大家可以体会得到。
最后，说一个最切实的一个例子，那现在我们大家坐在这个地方，忽然之间大地震了，人人脱门而出，叫你坐在这里真难啰！要有一点本事喔！你要念佛念到一心不乱，你还坐得住，否则的话一定逃出去。是不是逃出去比坐在这里远来得容易啊！所以我们不能做的原因，就是你没有如实地了解了事情的真相。所以真正难的话，还是在正知见。

来源 SOURCE：

日常师父法语 22B 08’06”手抄稿第三册 P201L9

22B 08’06” Vol 3 of Master Jih-Chang’s Discourse P201L9
English Lamrim Volume 1, P92

【A summary of the meaning of the previous five parts】

【Once you have done this, you will quickly become like the conquerors’ child Sadapraudita, who had perfect courage, and the youthful Sudhana, who knew no limit in his search for teachers.】

Now we can take ourselves for example, there are many joys in the mundane world. Who doesn’t want those things? Everyone wants it. If I tell you not to go after them, eh, no one is willing to let them go. If there is some delicious food here, and I ask you to sit somewhere to wait and eat it later, you wouldn’t be able to take that! Why do I ask you not to eat it when there is delicious food there? Indeed, for us, if we ask you to sit in front of it and do nothing, you wouldn’t be able to sit still. Standing up to walk around would be much easier than sitting there. I think we all know that feeling, right? Why? That is because in your mind, you truly know it is beneficial to you. This then gives rise to a motivational force. Then, it becomes easy to put into action. The same principle applies to Buddhism. For all the defilements that are in our minds now, once you truly understand that for all the benefits you are after, what do they all depend on? (It depends on) Dharma wealth, Dharma wealth. By then if we ask you not to cultivate, it becomes difficult. If we ask you to cultivate, it becomes easy for you to do it. I think we can all understand this.

Finally, I will give you an example that is most relatable to us. We are all staying in this place now. If there is suddenly a big earthquake, everyone would run out the door. If I ask you to sit still here, it would be quite difficult. You will need to have some ability in order to do that. If you can recite the Buddha’s name until the point of full concentration, then you may still be able to sit still. Otherwise, you will run for your life. Wouldn’t running out the door be much easier than sitting here! So the reason why we cannot practice is because we haven't truly understood the truth of things. Therefore, the real difficulty is still on (whether we have obtained) the correct view.