【RELYING ON THE TEACHER】- The student with the defining characteristics will able to find a teacher with all the defining characteristics

【Therefore, although you might find a teacher who has all the defining characteristics, it may be difficult to recognize their presence. Thus, it is necessary for the disciple to have these three characteristics in their entirety in order to recognize that the teacher has all the defining characteristics and in order then to rely on that teacher. 】

The outline and framework were explained above. Thus, in this framework, those earnest Buddha Dharma practitioners must be endowed with these qualifications in order to find a virtuous teacher. And virtuous teachers are particularly indispensible in learning Buddha Dharma. Thus, all of these are the key points. The reason that we are not able to have achievement is [lack of understanding of] these key points. Now, even though we have heard about it here, actually, I believe that majority of us not only do not understand but also have never heard of “Ah! So, to study Buddha Dharma, [I] must have this requirement!” May [I] ask, if you don’t understand, how can you practice? It is just this simple. Like a simple worldly task, you say “I am thinking of becoming an engineer,” where do you learn it? And what do you learn? Totally clueless! Even with the aspiration, it will not work. Hence, the same applies to Buddha Dharma. Actually, there are more profound requirements, the basic idea is the same.

SOURCE 来源 :

 16A 09’55” Vol 2 of Master Jih-Chang’s Discourse P256 L5
English Lamrim Vol 1 P76

日常师父法语📡16A 09’55”手抄稿第2册P256 L5

依师 : 具弟子相寻得具德善知识

【是故纵得完具一切德相知识，然于其师亦难了知。 若知彼已能亲近者，必须自具是诸德相。 】

一个原则，所以在这个原则之下，说修学佛法的人，真正能够修学佛法的人，他必定具足这个条件才可以，才可以找到善知识，而善知识尤其是修学佛法必不可少的。 所以凡是这种都是关键问题所在，现在我们所以不得成就的，就是这个地方。 现在我们听过这个里边的，实际上我相信极大部分的人，不要说不懂，乃至于听都从来没听说过，「啊！原来修学佛法，还要这样的呀！」请问这个不懂你怎么修学佛法？ 这样，就是这么简单法。就像我们世间很简单的一样东西， 你说我要想去学一个工程师，而工程师哪里去学？ 学些什么？ 一窍不通！虽然有这个心，不行。 那么佛法也是如此，实际上要求的条件更深，原则是通的。