【Benefits of relying on the teacher】-【And also the Sutra of Showing the Tathagata’s Inconceivable Secret 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, 】 

Even if you are chanting Buddha’s name, although you are verbally chanting, the mind is nevertheless in a state of distraction or laxity. Is this “virtue”? Not even close, if not for the guidance of the virtuous teacher, this would be unknown [to us]! And in order to have the guidance of the teacher, it still requires that we have the requisite qualifications as a student. Only then will you be able to absorb the instruction of the teacher. Otherwise, whatever they say about you, you will still be unconvinced. Therefore, the required qualification is needed; this sequence must be flawless! At that time, due to your preparation ahead of time, you will mindfully pay respect. And this virtuous teacher has to be truly endowed with the proper qualifications. The most qualified virtuous teacher must be Buddha or the Bodhisattvas of the tenth level and above. Even the lower level ones are those that have entered the Bodhisattva levels, of course their advise to you will be perfectly suitable. Hence, you will develop proper recognition and transform our usual tendency of accord to the three mental poisons – invert to virtuous motivation. As for all of our deeds, what is the key guidance? It is our motivation! Once your intention is transformed, your behavior will also become “virtuous practice.” Because the attitude is inverted, of course the practice will become virtuous.

SOURCE 来源 :

20B 26’00”  Vol 3 of Master Jih-Chang’s Discourse P141 L7
English Lamrim Vol 1 P88

日常师父法语📡20B 26’00” 手抄稿第3册P141 L7

亲近胜利 : 【《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。若如是者，闻善法故成善意乐，及由彼故成善加行。。。。。】

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。